Maureen McCarry, a kind-spirited City Council member recognized for her work with the environment, resigned Monday night. She was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in October.
“I leave the council, not with sadness, but with joy of having had the experience of serving people and pride that I have in the Issaquah community,” McCarry wrote in a resignation letter.
Although attending meetings up until Monday, the soft-spoken McCarry didn’t have the voice to address city council for several months.
“I’m eager to see what she does, because although her voice has been muted, it’s clear that her passion for Issaquah continues,” said Councilmember Tola Marts.
Her announcement came just minutes after the council wrapped up a complicated agreement that opened up development to Bellevue College while preserving the 140 acre Park Pointe. McCarry was thanked for her leadership through the two-year project.
A former Harborview Medical center executive, McCarry holds a Ph.D. in cognitive development.
Shortly after moving to Issaquah in 1993, she was appointed to Issaquah’s Planning Policy Commission, often a training ground for new council members.
She was first appointed to the council in 1998, when she chaired a committee that oversaw the Talus and Highlands development agreements.
She ran for election in 2005, before winning her 2009 reelection in a landslide vote.
Marts, who ran for election the same year, recalled that during her 2009 bid, she didn’t say a negative thing about anyone.
That following year she served as the council’s president, before John Traeger took over in 2010.
She served on the council for seven years altogether.
McCarry’s decision to leave was emotional for the council.
After Traeger read her resignation letter, the room erupted in a standing ovation. Weepy-eyed council members took turns thanking her for her work.
It’s hard seeing her leave the council, but even harder to see her struggle with the disease, said council member Fred Butler. “It’s very sad, she will be missed.”
Filling the position
The council is expected to announce how it plans to replace McCarry at its next council meeting Jan. 3.
It’s likely the council will appoint someone to serve the three remaining years of her term.
“I know I will leave the council in good hands, as they will soon choose a successor from the many qualified applicants,” McCarry wrote.
Qualified candidates must be 18-years old, registered to vote, and living in the city. Council members can discuss the candidates in executive session, but the interviews must be held publicly.
Park Pointe complete
The final pieces of the Park Pointe puzzle came together Monday night, after city council put its stamp of approval on a development agreement that will preserve 140 acres of land on Tiger Mountain while opening up development to Bellevue College.
The miracle of the agreement, which took two years to draft, was that it came at no cost to the city.
“It’s sort of the art of what’s possible,” Butler said.
In addition to approving the complexities of the plan, the city also annexed a 35-acre chunk of land formerly owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
“It’s with sublime joy that I support this,” Tola said.
The council’s vote was unanimous.
Into the new year
Naming the new council president and giving one last vote on the budget prepared the council to move into the new year Monday night.
John Traeger was renamed the council president with Fred Butler as his deputy.
The budget was approved as an item on the consent agenda with no discussion. While the city isn’t projecting much revenue increase next year, it didn’t see the significant losses of some cities.
