A special election will be held to fill the Ward 3 seat on the Washington City Council that was left vacant by Brendan DeLong Tuesday.

The council held a special session following their regular meeting to determine whether to fill the vacancy by appointment or by an election for a term that’s set to expire in December 2023. Council member Steven Gault stated his belief that this term was too long to fill by appointment, and expressed a preference for vacant council seats to be filled by an election. Mayor Jaron Rosien shared that several people have voiced their interest in representing the southeast ward of the city, which also served as cause for an election. The council discussed the possibility of holding this election in conjunction with the county’s election to fill the district 3 board of supervisors seat, though the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office stipulates that polls close for city elections at 8 p.m. and at 9 p.m. for county elections. The soonest the county can hold their election is March 2nd. The council thanked DeLong for his five years of service to the city, though as of January 1st he now serves the city as Washington’s fire chief.