Richland city council member resigns amid health concerns

RICHLAND, Wash.-- There is an unexpected vacancy on the Richland City Council after Brad Anderson resigned from the council.

Anderson sent a letter of resignation to the council Tuesday prior to the weekly meeting, which Mayor Ryan Lukson read aloud.

"The primary reason for my resignation is that I need to focus on my health. After a recent visit with my doctor, I knew that had to slow down a bit and make some changes to my life. As I am still far from retirement age, I need to focus on my day job to help provide for my family. The positive in this is that my condition was caught early on, and is very correctable through lifestyle changes. Again, while this is manageable and correctable, it's merely the one extra weight that has tipped the scales and advanced my exit from community service," Lukson read.

Read the entire resignation letter HERE.

Anderson was initially voted to the council in 2011, and has been re-elected twice. He stated in the letter that he had not planned to seek a fourth term, but had hoped to finish out this term, which ends in 2023.

Richland City Manager Cindy Rentz advised that council that they have 60 days to appointment a replacement to finish out the term. If no appointment is made, the mayor will then make an appointment.

Council members agreed to move forward with advertising that the seat is open, and begin accepting applications from anyone interested in the position.

The council will then conduct interviews and select a replacement in open session.