The Port Townsend City Council conducted interviews at City Hall on Tuesday, July 23 to determine who will temporarily fill Position 2 following the resignation of council member Aislinn Palmer in May.

Leading the process was Deputy Mayor Amy Howard, along with council members Owen Rowe, Monica MickHager, and Libby Wennstrom. Members will deliberate and decide the appointment during the business meeting on August 5. The appointment requires a majority vote among the four council members. Mayor David Faber and Ben Thomas have recused themselves from the process. 

The appointee will likely be sworn in on August 12. The member will serve until the 2025 general election is certified when the elected member will begin serving a four-year term.

Each candidate was interviewed for approximately 30 minutes, answering questions about the challenges facing Port Townsend. Each was allotted five minutes to ask questions of the council.

Four individuals interviewed for the position:

Fred Obee is a retired journalist who has lived in Port Townsend for the past 21 years. He served on the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Board for 10 years and was president in 2012. He was also a board member of the Washington Coalition for Open Government for Women Voters, moderating candidate forums for the League of Women Voters for a decade. 

"First of all, I am retired and have the time to devote to city business,” said Obee. “Second, I am free of business, real estate or political conflicts. Finally, I spent most of my professional career closely following local governments, and I think the knowledge, skills and judgments I honed in my working life will make me an effective member of the city council.”

Heidi Haney is a local business owner with experience in executive management. She is the owner of Tipsy Gypsy S.P.C., a mobile bartending service specializing in weddings, events, and guided wine education tastings and excursions. Additionally, Haney is a sommelier for Port Townsend Vineyards. She has served on three boards of directors for various organizations in the city. She said she believes that her experience in management and strengths as a leader make her the ideal candidate for the city council.

"Strong leadership that is able to see all sides of a situation and can be a good fiduciary steward for our city is the best candidate. I believe I can fill that role," said Haney. “I firmly believe with my community involvement and influence that I can be a participating councilmember that actively leads by example the change I like to see in the world – and more specifically – our town!"

Neil Nelson is the owner of Piecewurx Construction in Port Townsend. He has either owned or was the property manager of multiple businesses. Nelson currently serves on the Port Townsend Planning Commission, sharing his expertise and insight towards the current comprehensive plan. After working with the commission, he said a council appointment is the next step in expanding his public service impact. Nelson is also a regular speaker for 12-step recovery groups, drug courts and local treatment centers. 

"I have a great interest in seeing our community continue to thrive in today's uncertain times,” said Nelson. “I feel I can be part of the forward momentum this community needs. I am the only candidate to have spent much of the last few years working with the city council while on the planning commission; I think I would be the best choice to fill the empty council seat.”

Theo Howard is a Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers' Housing Justice Project staff attorney and was elected Board President of Olympic Housing Trust in 2024. Howard provides advice and representation to eligible low-income tenants as a staff attorney. With a background in sustainability, energy, and environmental law, Howard said the most pressing challenge is responding to and adapting to anthropogenic climate change and its associated environmental changes. 

"Among the applicants for appointment to the open city council seat, I believe I come closest to being a replacement Aislinn, or Replaislinn," said Howard.