Soap Lake appoints mayor pro tem, council member steps down

SOAP LAKE — Karen Woodhouse was named mayor pro tem at the Feb. 5 Soap Lake City Council meeting. The council passed Woodhouse’s appointment unanimously. Council Member JoAnne Rushton also gave the council a letter prior to the meeting stepping down from her role on the council, opening a city council spot, according to Mayor Peter Sharp.   

On Aug. 7 former Soap Lake Allen DuPay stepped down. Then-former Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Taylor stepped down during the Aug. 20 meeting and Sharp, formerly a council member, was appointed to mayor pro tem during the same meeting. Taylor later stepped down from the council altogether leaving one open position on the council. Sharp was appointed mayor during the Sept. 8 meeting. This then left two open positions on the city council. During the Oct. 16 meeting, the council appointed both JoAnne Rushton and Eli Olson, filling both open spots.  

“(Rushton) just said she has other things in her life right now that are more important right now,” Sharp said.  

Sharp said the city will open an application for a new city council member next week, stating the city has 14 days to notify and open the application. Then, Soap Lake has 90 days to fill the position.