Correction: Council will meet Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. not 3:30 p.m. as originally posted. the Observer regrets the error. And the interviews will be broadcast live on Richland City View.

Richland City Councilmembers picked five candidates to interview from 24 applications for a vacant council seat during their secret executive session on Tuesday night. The group includes a well-connected neighbor of a councilmember, a builder and a realtor, a Kadlec Hospital dietician and a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory manager.

Well-connected neighbor

Andrew Rice, the well-connected neighbor of newly elected Councilmember Pat Holten, resides in central Richland’s “Gold Coast” area. Rice, who is the father-in-law of Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger, has lived in Richland for five years and the Tri-Cities for 18.

Although Rice has never run for position on the Richland council, this is the second time he has applied to be appointed. In December 2022, two years after Rice moved to Richland, he was one of 10 applicants who applied to fill the seat left vacant when Mayor Michael Alvarez was elected to the Benton County Commission. Rice interviewed, but the council picked current Councilmember Ryan Whitten for the position.

Rice, a retired chemist, described his first priority for the council in his application. “Sound long term strategy is needed to ensure Richland continues to be a good place to live,” he wrote.

When the Observer emailed all the applicants for the appointment and asked why they didn’t seek a position on the city council during the 2025 election, Rice did not respond.

Rice’s wife, Terri Rice, contributed to Holten’s city council campaign as well as Holten’s campaign to stop elections by district in Richland. (Disclosure: The Observer worked for the Yes campaign on districts.)

Two real estate associated applicants

Britt Creer, who lives in north Richland, described himself as a “Construction Development Owner” and said on his resume, “Excellent relationship with all cities that I have developed and built in, provided additional roadway and main water line for key growth in West Richland WA that has allowed for previously unplanned growth in the West region of that City.”

The Tri-City Herald published an article describing a development that Creer had begun in 2023 on 152 acres in south Kennewick.

Creer, who has lived in Richland continuously for 22 years served on the Richland Housing Authority for 20 of them, did not respond to the Observers question about why he didn’t run for a city council position during the 2025 elections.

As for priorities, Creer wrote on his application, “I want Richland to be Safe, Planned Well, and Prepared for the Future.”

Kyle Palmer, a third generation Richlander and a 2003 Hanford High School graduate, lists his occupation as “realtor.”

Palmer has lived in Richland continuously for the last 14 years and resides in a central Richland neighborhood.

“Managing growth while protecting infrastructure and quality of life,” would be his top priority.

Palmer has some experience running for city council. In 2019, while he chaired the Richland Planning Commission, Palmer ran against Mayor Pro Tem Terry Christensen for a sit on the council. He received over 43% of the vote. As to why he didn’t run in 2025, Palmer wrote the Observer, “…last year I didn’t feel it was the right time to undertake a full campaign.”

Kadlec Hospital Dietician

Samantha Mason, Kadlec Hospital dietician, attended Richland Public Schools and graduated from Richland High School. She has lived in Richland continuously for 13 years and, during her six years on the Richland Parks and Recreation Board, she has been both vice chair and chair. Mason currently resides in south Richland in an area between the Yakima River and Gage Blvd and the irrigation canal

Mason lists “managing growth and development responsibly” as her top priority.

As to why she didn’t run for election to the council in 2025, Mason wrote the Observer that she first wanted to serve out her term on the Parks and Recreation Commission that ends in March.

A PNNL Manager

Todd Samuel graduated from Richland High School and has worked in Richland for over 40 years and lived continuously in Richland for the last 14. He resides just south of the Yakima River and currently serves on both the Richland Planning Commission and the Richland Code Enforcement Board.

Samuel lists as his highest priority for city council, “Infrastructure Improvement and Sustainable Development.”

When the Observer asked why he didn’t seek election to the council in 2025, he responded, “My interest in serving on the council has grown as I’ve become more knowledgeable regarding our city and how it works.” He added that if he wasn’t chosen for the appointment, he would consider running for the office.

From 2009 to 2016, Samuel was a member of the Pasco Planning Commission.

Some controversy swirls around the council’s choices.

The council selection of five from the 24 who applied for the vacancy was not without controversy. One defeated candidate in the 2025 election, Kyle Saltz, told the Observer in a telephone interview that he thought that he and Colin Michael, who received the sixth and fifth highest number of votes respectively, should have been considered. He said people who spent the time and money and received voter approval need to be considered.

In messages to the Observer and to other Richland residents and groups, some of Andrew Rice’s former fellow church members have complained about his leadership style. The Observer has reached out to Rice for a response.

Public interviews on Tuesday

The council will hold public interviews of the five candidates Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Richland City Hall. The interviews will be broadcast live on Richland City View.  Two applicants will be interviewed remotely. A selection will be made behind closed doors in an executive session and announced following that meeting.