Dennis Brown takes his oath of office after being appointed to the Tonasket City Council on July 10. Photo by Brent Baker

TONASKET – Dennis Brown is no stranger to Tonasket City Council meetings. But leading off the Tuesday, July 10, meeting, he moved from the gallery to the hot seat as he was appointed by the council to fill Position 4, which has been vacant since Julianna Griffin resigned June 13.

Griffin was re-elected to the four-year post in 2011.

Brown, who has served on the Planning Commission for the year, has been a regular at council meetings for nearly three years.

The city advertised for the position for several weeks without receiving any applicants, but Mayor Patrick Plumb asked Brown to consider the position.

“I ran for the job a few years ago and lost,” Brown said. “It was a fun battle.

“I find it interesting. It’s an interesting process. I’ve enjoyed the meetings and seeing what’s going on. I’m disappointed that more people don’t come. People want to argue about what’s happening but they don’t want to show up to be a part of it.”

Brown is retired from full-time work but has kept himself busy “doing things here and there,” he said.

With only Councilmembers Jean Ramsey and Scott Olson present, Councilmember Selena Hines participated via speakerphone in the vote to appoint Brown before the council could conduct any other business. Their vote was unanimous.

“There is no one more qualified,” said Ramsey as she seconded Olson’s motion to approve Brown’s appointment. “He never misses a meeting.”