Medical Lake City Councilman John Paikuli steps down

Medical Lake will once again go through the exercise of filling a vacant seat on its city council following the announcement that John Paikuli has resigned his Position 1 slot.

The decision was announced at the July 24 council meeting.

"Yes, I'll be stepping down effective about Aug. 1," Paikuli wrote in an email. The specific time isn't quite determined yet, but within the first week of August. He is not only moving outside of the city limits but outside of the state borders.

"As my extended family ages, the Paikuli's have decided to return to our original home in Hawaii," he said.

The Paikuli's have lived in Medical Lake for 35 years and their roots are deep, but his parents have made the decision to move. "I'm finally going to introduce my children to the other half of the family that reside on those tiny islands," Paikuli said.

"We will still maintain a minor presence in Medical Lake," Paikuli said. "We own the office building on Lake Street and we will still have hundreds of clients that we will continue to service locally. I also have two children that will remain here as well."

Paikuli said the desire to serve on the City Council was always one of love for the community and his neighbors.

"I've never had an agenda or was beholden to any of the special interest groups in the community," Paikuli said. "It's always been 'what is best for the city in the cheapest way possible.'"

He hopes that the citizens continue to elect those who take a conservative - meaning not changing the community quickly - good people to represent them.

"John has shown a singular dedication to the citizens of Medical Lake during his tenure as a Medical Lake City Council member," Mayor Shirley Maike wrote in an email. "He continually asks himself and the rest of the council, what's the best for the majority of our family, our friends and our neighbors in Medical Lake - not what's best for a few who speak up, but for our community as a whole."

The council recently saw the appointment of Elizabeth Rosenbeck to fill the term of newly-elected John Merrick who resigned due to conflicts with a new job. It is expected that a similar application process will take place soon.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.