The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - The Dayton City Council will soon be short two members, and city officials are encourag- ing interested residents to apply for those seats.

Council member Jim Cooper resigned in April because of a move to Walla Walla. Council member Arthur Hall will leave the council at the end of May, because of a move to Tri- Cities.

Prospective council members must have lived in the city at least a year prior to taking office. Any- one interested in serving on Dayton City Council should contact City Hall at (509) 382-2361.

Six of the seven council positions are up for election in the fall. The filing period for those positions is May 13 through 17.

According to the Columbia County Auditor's office, if the current open position is filled prior to the end of the filing period, the new appointee would need to file for election this year. Anyone appointed to a position after the filing period will serve through 2015, including whoever is appointed to Hall's position after he leaves May 31.

Dayton Mayor Craig George said that the city has the option to reduce the number of city council po- sitions to five, and he will bring the matter before the council soon. However, an ordinance would have to be passed at least six months prior to a municipal election, so that change could not be made until the 2015 election.