SEQUIM — A surfing, stay-at-home dad is the newest Sequim City Council member.

Kelly Burger, 34, who has lived in the city for six-plus years, was chosen by council members on Feb. 10 to serve through the November general election.

Burger was sworn in at the beginning of the council meeting and said he’s excited to serve the city.

“We love living in Sequim and I want to make it a good place to live for my kids, and I want to make it a place that, when they get older, hopefully they’ll want to live here,” he said. “And if they do leave, hopefully it’s that I’ve just told too many dad jokes and not that they don’t see a future in Sequim.”

Four council members — Mayor Brandon Janisse, Dan Butler, Nicole Hartman and Harmony Rutter — voted for Burger, while two — Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson and Vicki Lowe — voted for Pete Tjemsland. Burger replaced Kathy Downer, who resigned on Jan. 13 to spend more time with family.

Downer was elected to council seat No. 1 in 2023. If Burger chooses to serve the remainder of her term through 2027, he must file for August’s primary election in May and win the seat in November.

Burger was one of eight candidates considered, including Patrick Day, former mayor Tom Ferrell, Denny Luce, Greg McCarry, William Stone, Tjemsland and R.C. Weber.

Butler, who nominated Burger, said he liked Burger’s presentation during his Feb. 3 council interview for being well-organized, and he appreciated his professional and personal background and his priorities for the city.

During the council meeting, Butler thanked the applicants, saying “it’s very gratifying to see people interested in serving in this position, and I’m grateful to you for putting yourselves out there for this process.”

In his council interview, Burger said he’s been looking for opportunities to contribute to the local government, and he applied and interviewed for Ferrell’s vacant seat in 2024.

Some of his priorities include improving infrastructure to make the city safer and more walkable by adding sidewalks, street lamps and improving roads, protecting green space, addressing climate change and prioritizing affordable and workforce housing.

In a separate interview, he said walkability is important as he lives near Margaret Kirner Park, “and if you want to walk there from Fourth (Avenue), you have to walk on the side of the road, and there’s no sidewalks, there’s no street lights.”

As a council member, Burger said he wants to work collaboratively, listen to community members and be transparent about the council’s decision-making process.

Burger said he’s “open to hear from the citizens of Sequim” and he’s “excited to represent people that live here.”

Burger said he and his wife Miranda met in high school in Gig Harbor and they traveled the country in a camper for a year “to kind of do it all” before they moved to Sequim.

“We’ve always loved Sequim, so we decided to settle down here when we were done,” Burger said.

The couple have two children, ages 4 and 15 months, and he plans to remain a stay-at-home father.

Burger left the workforce in 2020 to support his wife’s career. Previously, he worked as a sales estimator at Brix Marine in Port Angeles and has an associate of science degree in Marine Environmental Technology from Florida Keys Community College.

Burger said he enjoys surfing, gardening and protecting the environment.

“I want to make sure everyone can have a quality life in Sequim,” Burger said.

He’ll participate with city council members in their upcoming council retreat that will focus on the city’s updated Comprehensive Plan.

For more information about the Sequim City Council, visit sequimwa.gov.

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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached by email at matthew.nash@sequimgazette.com.