Richland city councilmembers haven’t decided how they will replace newly elected, deceased councilmember Donald Landsman, according to Richland City Manager Jon Amundson. Neither the Richland City Charter nor any state law directs how they choose a replacement. They could ask citizens to apply and decide from among those as they’ve done in the past, or they could skip applications and pick someone who they know has four votes of support from the six remaining councilmembers.
The council has 60 days to decide then the mayor can choose.
The Richland City Charter Article II, Section 2.04 gives the council 60 days to pick a replacement. After that the mayor can choose. The Observer asked Amundson when the 60 days start ticking.
According to Amundson, the countdown starts on January 1, 2026. He explained that Article II, Section 2.03 of the city charter and state law RCW42.12.010 provide that a vacancy occurs when the newly elected candidate fails to take the oath between the certification of the election, in this case November 25, 2025, and the first day of their term, January 1, 2026. Councilmember Ryan Lukson, who had announced that he would step down after first being elected in 2017, will serve until then.
The charter provides no guidance on how to pick a new councilmember.
The charter provides no guidance on how to pick a new councilmember, so the Observer asked Amundson if the council planned to ask for applications for the position or already have a replacement picked out.
Amundson replied:
“While the Charter doesn’t spell out a specific procedure for filling a vacant council seat, no process has been determined yet. Because the appointment will be made for someone who will serve alongside the incoming 2026 City Council, it makes sense for that future Council to decide what process they want to follow once they are seated after the first of the year.
Staff anticipate that the 2026 City Council will provide direction on the preferred appointment process at the January 6, 2026, City Council meeting. Until that direction is given, there is no predetermined selection or replacement already identified.”
The new councilmember will be the third of seven members who first joined the council as appointees.
The new councilmember will be the third of seven members who first joined the council as appointees.
In June 2022, the council picked Shayne VanDyke from 12 applicants to replace Councilmember Phil Lemley when he retired from the council.
Councilmember Ryan Whitten was selected from 10 applicants to replace Mayor Michael Alvarez in January 2023 after he was elected to the Benton County Commission.
Council candidate died suddenly in August,
Landsman died suddenly in August after deadlines for filing to run for office had passed. He remained on the ballot, and the Benton County Republic Party recommended him instead of 19-year-old John Maier, son of Councilmember Kurt Maier.
Voters elected Landsman in November to replace Lukson.
Watch them install Saltz. I’ve got money on it.
Hi C, I appreciate your comment. I think a number of people have been “auditioning” for the position. Since none of the council seats were competitive, both the councilmembers who weren’t up for election and the new members have had since August to think about it. I’d be surprised if they haven’t already picked someone. Thanks for reading the Observer. Randy
The council is accepting applications for the vacant position. They’ll pick someone from the applicants. I don’t see the issue.
Hi Ed, I appreciate your comment. The article that you referenced was written on December 4, 2025. On January 5, 2026 the Tri-City Herald reported on the plan to fill Donald Landsman’s council seat. Generally, if the Herald covers a story and there’s nothing to add, I don’t write anything. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy