Twisp Council member Clay Hill resigned this week from the council to take a job in Olympia as policy counsel for the House Republican caucus in the Washington State Legislature. Hill announced his resignation in a letter to the mayor Sept. 8.
Hill was running for re-election to council position 5 when he was offered the job in Olympia. He was being challenged for the council seat by Dwight Filer.
“Officially I’m still on the ballot,” said Hill, who has placed campaign signs around Twisp. He said the County Auditor has already sent election ballots for printing.
Hill moved to Twisp in 2010 and has worked as a deputy prosecutor for the Okanogan County prosecuting attorney’s office. He was appointed to the Twisp Council in June 2012 to fill the remainder of Hans Smith’s term after Smith resigned. The term expires in November this year.
Hill drew attention while on the Twisp Council for his outspoken advocacy of opening town streets to all-terrain vehicles. During heated public hearings on the issue, Hill said he believed that allowing ATVs in Twisp would bring more people to the town and provide an economic benefit to the community.
Filer said he decided to run against Hill in the November election in part because of Hill’s stand in the ATV debate.
Noting that his name will still be on the ballot, Hill said, “Maybe people can use this as a referendum on the ATV issue.”
Hill said his work in Olympia would include serving as staff attorney for two standing committees of the House of Representatives, and providing policy and strategic advice to the House Republican caucus. Hill and his wife and young daughter will move to Olympia at the end of the month.
Mayor Soo Ing-Moody said the town council “can decide to appoint someone for rest of term or leave it vacant for now.”
