Riley Carter has resigned from Aberdeen City Council.

Carter, who was elected to Aberdeen City Council in November 2023 and who served the city’s Ward 5 until this past Friday, resigned in a unique way.

It’s unique because those four-year seats don’t normally see resignations, much less a resignation that has to be done through jail staff.

In Carter’s case, it was David Gakin, a city councilor who serves Aberdeen’s Ward 2, who made the resignation possible.

Ruth Clemens, city administrator, said Carter signed a notarized letter of resignation.

“He did not call from jail,” Clemens said Monday. “Council member David Gakin recognized that, based on state law, the city’s charter and municipal code, the city could not move forward without a conviction or resignation (per) RCW 42.12. A conviction could take months or even longer.”

“Resignations shall be made as follows:” the Washington state Legislature website states. “By the state officers and members of the Legislature, to the governor; by all county officers, to the county commissioners of their respective counties; by all other officers, holding their offices by appointment, to the body, board or officer that appointed them.”

Carter had not signed the resignation letter ahead of Wednesday’s city council meeting. The lack of a signed resignation before the meeting made it impossible for the city council to remove Carter from the council.

Clemens spoke briefly about Gakin’s leadership in stopping at Grays Harbor County Jail, in Montesano.

“Council member Gakin stepped up for the rest of the council by going to the jail and delivered a note requesting Mr. Carter to sign a resignation letter,” Clemens said. “There was no contact with Mr. Carter. Everything was conducted through jail staff.”

According to Clemens, Gakin had a “prepared letter of resignation” that Carter signed.

Clemens applauded Gakin’s actions.

“It should be noted that Council Member Gakin went to the jail to do something that no other council member volunteered to do,” Clemens said. “He really stepped up for the city and the council.”

Carter, who was arraigned Monday morning, remains in jail on a cash or surety bond of $150,000.

Current city council

The city’s next steps will be to post the vacancy on city council.

“We will request any interested eligible parties express interest by Friday, Aug. 30, 2024,” said Becca Weiss, Aberdeen’s deputy city clerk. “Interested parties will then be invited to attend the city council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11, where they will have an opportunity to address the council and answer questions. The council will then vote on who they want to fill the vacancy.”

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.