It’s going to be a tough decision for the Issaquah City Council. Seven qualified, articulate individuals stepped up to the mic at Tuesday’s city council meeting to state why they should be chosen to replace Mark Mullet’s old seat on the council. Mullet was elected to the State Senate in District 5 in the November election. Here is a look at the candidates:

Civil and environmental engineer Mary Lou Pauly has lived in Issaquah for 19 years. She is a member of the task force for the Klahanie annexation study and has been a member of the city’s development commission since 1994. She supports housing options, including affordable housing. Pauly supports density in the Central Issaquah Plan, and is in favor of a regional transit center for Issaquah.

“Compromise and respect is how to get things done,” Pauly said.

Naval officer Michael Beard earned a Combat Air Medal for 39 flights in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Beard, who serves on the Urban Village Development Commission, made Issaquah home for his family four years ago. Beard continues to serve in the Navy Reserves, and is a liaison for Issaquah High School for the U.S. Naval Academy. He said the city’s biggest challenge is growth. He said a good business climate is essential for new business to come to Issaquah. Beard currently works as a district facilities manager for Target Corp.

Chantal Stevens is currently employed as a performance management analyst for the King County Auditor’s office. She currently serves on the city’s planning policy commission and previously co-chaired the economic vitality task-force. Stevens has lived in the Highlands for eight years. With vast experience in policy, she said she has sufficient knowledge in good government practices. Stevens wants the CIP to be properly implemented and move forward while making sure the city retains its quality of life.

Joe Forkner is a 22-year resident of Issaquah and has served on numerous boards and commissions. He was on the city council from 2000-2007, and worked for the city of Issaquah from 1990-1997 first for operations and maintenance and then for the engineering department. Forkner is an engineering technician/drafter for Encompass Engineering and Surveying together with Baima and Holmberg, Inc. Forkner was with the city council when Issaquah tried before to annex Klahanie, so he would bring knowledge of that issue to the table. He supports transit, affordable housing, and maintaining the old town character.

Mexican-American Bill Ramos has lived in Issaquah for eight years and is a community planner for the Federal Transit Administration. Previously he worked for 16 years with the U.S. Forest Service. With experience in environmental impact studies, Ramos said in addition to representing the people of Issaquah, he will represent the land.

“We need to build community and make people feel heard,” he said. He believes in open dialogue and discussion.

South Cove resident Tim Flood and his wife are putting down roots in Issaquah as of six months ago, but Flood has been an Eastside resident for six years. Flood works for Microsoft at the Issaquah campus in premier service sales. Flood would like to see more people be able to live and work in Issaquah, and integrate the South Lake Sammamish area more into the city. Flood said he would seek to balance economic issues with environmental issues. He would like to spearhead a job fair to encourage living and working in Issaquah.

Civil engineer Mark Rigos has lived or worked in Issaquah since 1999. With a background in both the public and private sectors, he is very experienced in surface water issues, and is a certified wetland specialist. He is presently employed with the City of Newcastle as its public works director, which presents no conflict of interest in seeking this position. Issaquah Creek is of special concern to Rigos because of the salmon. He feels the creek is an asset to the city that must be protected. Rigos would also like to see Sammamish State Park get spruced up. He said his strength is striving to understand other people’s opinions.

The council will announce the appointment at a special meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. The appointment lasts until what would have been the end of Mullet’s term this year. If the appointee chooses to continue, he or she would have to run for the office in November’s election.