A few familiar faces are applying to be Langley’s next city council member.

As of morning Friday, Dec. 18, Dominique Emerson and Frank Rose, both members of city boards, and Aaron Simpson had applied for the soon-to-be vacant seat. Councilwoman Robin Black will step down in January at the same meeting she will swear in, having won the November election unopposed. City Clerk and Director of Finance Debbie Mahler said Emerson and Rose were the only people to file their letter of intent and resumes with the city. Langley first officially advertised the opening Dec. 7, though the city has known about the impending vacancy since October.

Black, whose husband Tim Callison won the mayoral race, said she would resign if her husband was elected. The purpose, she said in her contingent resignation letter, was to avoid any possible concerns of conflicts of interest. 

Emerson has served on the city’s planning advisory board.

Rose is the chairman of the city’s arts commission.

Simpson formerly served on the city’s planning board.

Originally, Mayor Fred McCarthy said at the Dec. 7 city council meeting the council would interview and select the new council member at the Dec. 21 meeting. After some hesitation about having the current council select the new candidate, the city decided it was best to wait until Councilwoman-elect Ursula Shoudy swore in Jan. 4 to conduct interviews and appoint a new council member.

“Everybody wants the new member of the council, Ursula, to be voting on it,” Mahler said.