11 apply for vacant Pasco City Council seat. Several have ties to Hanford, PNNL

Eleven applicants have stepped up to fill a vacant seat on the Pasco City Council — and several have ties to the Hanford nuclear reservation, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Pasco schools and more.

Monday, June 27, was the last day to submit applications and resumes to be considered for the District 3 position, which was recently left vacant by Nikki Torres, a Republican who’s moved outside city limits to run for a vacant state Senate seat.

The city council plans to select a candidate at the July 11 meeting.

At their next meeting, set for Tuesday, July 5, the council plans to narrow down a shortlist of candidates who will be interviewed at the following meeting.

Pasco Council District 3 encompasses much of the northeastern part of the city, including the Tri-Cities Airport, Columbia Basin College and several neighborhoods off Burden Boulevard.

Although Torres’ position isn’t up for reelection until 2025, whomever is selected would stand for reelection in 2023 before serving out the rest of the term.

It’s unclear who among the 11 are eligible and live within District 3’s boundaries; city staff haven’t yet cut candidates for ineligibility and candidates’ home addresses were redacted from copies of the applications that the Tri-City Herald reviewed.

Leo Perales is a former city council candidate who lost to Torres in last year’s general election.

Perales currently works for Atlas Technical Consultants in Kennewick.

“For 14 years I have volunteered on numerous state and local public service boards and commissions, giving me the critical experience needed, along with a front row seat in understanding a city council member’s role in leading and serving a city such as Pasco,” he wrote in his application.

He’s been involved with Consejo Latino, the Kennewick Housing Authority, the Benton County Planning Commission, Pasco LULAC No. 47014, and the Washington State Commission of Hispanic Affairs.

Irving Brown Sr. also ran for the District 3 seat last year, but failed to make it past the August primary.

He currently works at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center in Pasco, and previously worked in human resources for the Washington Potato Company and served as executive director of the Tri-Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council.

A resident of 10 years, he’s also been involved in the Miss Juneteenth pageant and scholarship event and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.

“I will work to strengthen our city’s economy with pro-growth policies that distribute development evenly across our city. I will find ways to save money in our budget without compromising vital services while maintaining a culture of equity, inclusion and empowerment in our local government,” he wrote.

Stephen Persons works as an oversight accountant with the U.S. Department of Energy Richland Operations and has lived in Pasco for 13 years.

He’s spent several years as a community coach, volunteer, teacher and mentor to youth.

“I dedicated two years of my life prior to attending (Oregon State University) volunteering in the intercity of Detroit, Michigan serving the Latino community there in (a) variety of activities such as translation services, to teaching English as a second language,” he wrote.

He aims to make Pasco “the place where the Spanish language is not only welcomed, but encouraged.”

Kate Smith works as a research analyst at PNNL and has lived in Pasco for 14 months.

She’s a mother of four — one with special needs — and has a decade of professional experience in government.

“I’d like to serve and help improve my community, especially (with) schools and community resources,” she wrote.

Jack Merrill is a project manager over at PNNL and former Boeing project manager.

He’s lived in Pasco for two years, but was raised as a farm hand working in wheat fields and grass seed crops.

“A few of my keen interests are to ensure that premier public services like well-maintained parks, transit and emergency services are prioritized,” he wrote.

Brett Knapp is a semi-retired Pasco resident, who has more than 25 years of experience as a Hanford worker.

He’s also a longtime volunteer firefighter, and has experience in the U.S. Navy Reserves personnel and Civil Air Patrol.

Knapp wants to bring his drive for service to the city council and “continue making Pasco a great place to live, work and do business.”

A pair of Pasco School District educators are also vying for the vacant seat.

Zulema Abastillas is a special education teacher who has lived in Pasco for 12 years. She’s been involved in the community through outreach work with local churches and church nonprofits. Her husband also works for the police department.

Responding to the city’s rapid growth is one of her top priorities.

“I want to serve on the city council because I want to use the position as a platform for aiding and supporting the diverse communities of Pasco,” she wrote. “As a first-generation American, I have experienced the struggles many Hispanic (people) face in acclimating to a different way of life. I want to find ways to better support those in need.”

Marianna Polyukh is a librarian who’s taught in the school district for seven years, and wants to serve to represent the city’s large Slavic population.

“I would love an opportunity to represent the large Ukrainian population here. Being an immigrant from Kyiv, Ukraine, I feel connected to our Ukrainian and Russian speaking communities in Pasco,” she wrote.

Ryan Jones is a journeyman welder currently at Energy Northwest — Columbia Generating Station who’s lived in Pasco 16 years.

He serves as an executive board member for the Local 598 Plumbers and Steamfitters and an instructor. Jones has also been involved in local youth sports programs, including Pasco Little League, Kennewick American Youth Baseball, and YMCA indoor soccer.

His goal in service is to “help promote responsible development with an emphasis in manufacturing and technology to support long-term family wage jobs in our community” and to expand STEM programs within local school districts.

Brent McGary is an accountant and business partnering analyst working in agriculture field. He also serves on the executive board for LeGrow Water Co.

“I want to serve my community,” he wrote. “I love Pasco, and want to work with the other members of the city council in developing Pasco as it continues its enormous growth.”

Stan Smith is a retired Pasco resident who’s lived in the city for seven years.