City council member Aislinn Palmer announced she will resign from the Port Townsend City Council effective May 31, leaving her Position 2 seat open for appointment in the coming months.

“I have made the difficult decision to leave this community. It has been an honor to serve with you and our fellow councilmembers, and I have great faith in your ability to continue this important work,” Palmer wrote in a letter to Mayor David Faber.

Palmer joined City Council in January 2022. Her term expires in November 2025. City Council will appoint a new member to fill her seat for the remainder of her term. According to state law, city council has 90 days to make the appointment.

“I will be particularly sorry to see Aislinn go,” said Faber. “Given her incredible intellect and willingness to do what is morally right or push for the optimal policy outcomes in the face of opposition. Aislinn will leave big shoes to fill, even after only slightly more than two years on City Council.”

Palmer provided verbal announcement of her resignation at the city council’s meeting May 6.

“I have enjoyed working with Councilmember Palmer immensely,” said City Manager John Mauro. “She always stood up for policy decisions she believed in and served our community selflessly, strategically and courageously.”

Palmer moved to the Olympic Peninsula in 2016 to work on the launch of Bayside Housing & Services, based in Port Hadlock. She left the organization in 2019 and continued to be active in housing advocacy and policy, volunteering for the Housing Solutions Network and serving on the Port Townsend Planning Commission from 2018 to 2021. She has a background in nonprofit management and community organizing, and until recently, was part of the leadership team at Fort Worden Hospitality.

While on city council, Palmer served on several boards and committees including as chair for the City Council Infrastructure and Development Committee, on the Housing Fund Board, the Jefferson County Behavioral Health Committee, the Jefferson County FEMA Funds (Dove House Advocacy Services, Administrative Agency), the Joint Growth Management Steering Committee and the North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation & Development Council (NODC)

The city clerk will work with the city council on the procedures to appoint a successor to finish Palmer’s term. An application process is expected to start by the end of May, followed by interviews at council meetings during the summer. The appointment process is expected to be completed by the end of August.

Palmer did not respond to requests for comment by press time.