Three residents have applied for the vacant Hoquiam City Council Ward 1 seat, and a current council member announced Monday he was interested in the position as well.

Ward 6 Councilman Dave Hinchen told the council he was moving into Ward 1 and would “like to entertain the notion of trying to be the other representative from the first ward.”

After consulting with city attorney Steve Johnson, who told the council the only statutory requirement for filling the vacant seat was to do so within 90 days, Ward 1 Councilman Paul McMillan moved that the deadline for applicants be extended to July 7 to accommodate Hinchen, and the council approved.

Along with Hinchen, the candidates who sent letters of interest for the Ward 1 seat, vacated by Dave Wilson when he moved out of the city, are:

• Darrell Cramer, a five-year resident of the city and retiree who spent 20 years in the wholesale beverage business.

• John Pellegrini, a retired 43-year resident of Ward 1 who served previously on the council for 12 years. He’s currently the president of the board of directors for Coastal Harvest.

• David Day, a resident of Ward 1 for seven years who recently joined the Grays Harbor Republican Party and serves as a precinct delegate.

Ward 2 Councilman Steven Puvogel recommended the now four candidates make themselves available for questions at the July 13 City Council meeting, and that the candidate selected be sworn in at the July 27 meeting, with the council agreeing.