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The man who lost to Molly Coston in the 2017 Washougal mayoral race has resigned from the Washougal City Council, effective March 31.
Dan Coursey contacted the Post-Record regarding his resignation March 21, after communicating with Mayor Coston and Washougal City Administrator David Scott.
Coston said that evening she was surprised by Coursey’s resignation.
“He has attended every meeting, but his engagement level has not been as intense as it was before,” she said. “It’s understandable. I was aware of the fact that he has a couple of work obligations that take him away from home.”
Coston said she called Coursey after she received his letter of resignation by email.
“I want to thank Dan for his service to the community,” she said. “I hope he stays engaged with the community through volunteerism or his church network.”
Coursey’s announcement was made two weeks after Joyce Lindsay said she is also resigning from City Council — effective May 31 — in order to move closer to several family members in the Bellingham and Seattle areas.
During Coursey’s campaign for mayor last year, he told his supporters if he won the mayoral race he would retire from his job that involves network and data center implementation and become the city’s representative.
“That did not happen,” Coursey said. “There is no sense in me retiring.”
In the Nov. 7, 2017 general election, Coston received 1,643 votes (53.94 percent), compared to 1,282 votes (42.09 percent) for Coursey and 121 votes (3.97 percent) for write-in candidate Paul Godin.
Coursey, 64, said since he did not win the mayor’s race, he wants to take advantage of “considerable professional business opportunities” and allow someone else to serve on the City Council. He is a contractor who sets up computer networks for large companies.
The council approved an excused absence for Coursey, who did not attend the March 26 regular council meeting. Coursey said in an email to Coston and Scott he was going to miss the meeting, due to work-related travel.
Coston said, with Coursey’s project management experience, she wants to hear from him if the city can save money and still provide the same level of services.
Coursey, a former systems engineer with Daimler Trucks North America, has served on the City Council since January 2016. His current term is in effect through Dec. 31, 2019.
Coursey and his wife, Margie, have lived in Washougal since 2005.
“Both I and my wife love our little city and look forward to assisting in the future, as time allows,” Coursey said.
Washougal accepts applications for City Council vacancy
Individuals interested in succeeding Coursey on the City Council will need to submit an application form, a one page cover letter, and a resume of no more than two pages, to Jennifer Forsberg, City Clerk, Washougal City Hall, 1701 C St., Washougal, WA 98671, no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 13.
Information about eligibility requirements and application forms are available at www.cityofwashougal.us/administration/page/notice-city-council-vacancy-position-7.
Candidate interviews will take place during the 7 p.m., Monday, April 23, regular council meeting.
The person chosen to succeed Coursey in Council Position 7 would serve until the results of the November 2019 election are certified.
“Whomever wins that election would finish out the last several weeks of that unexpired term and then serve the four year term 2020 through 2023,” Scott said.
He added that applications from people interested in succeeding Lindsay, in Council Position 4, will be accepted starting in late April or early May.
The Post-Record originally reported on Dan Coursey’s resignation Wednesday, March 21, at 8:41 p.m.
