Tillman to serve as mayor in Elmer City

Elmer City council last week elected Jesse Tillman as the new mayor following the resignation of Gail Morin last month.

Tillman was the only councilmember to throw his hat into the ring for the mayoral position to replace Morin, which will be up for re-election for a two-year term in November 2019.

"He's a fourth-generation mayor," said Public Works Director Jimmer Tillman, Jesse's uncle. "His great-grandfather served as mayor, his grandfather, his father, and now him."

Tillman's great grandfather, Otis Tillman, served as mayor of Elmer City sometime around the late 1950s or early 1960s. Later, his grandfather, James Otis Tillman, served as mayor, followed by Paul Otis Tillman, Jesse's father, and now Jesse Otis Tillman.

"All the Otises," Jesse Tillman said.

"I had a passion for the town from my family. There's a lot of history with the Tillmans with this town," Tillman said about getting involved in local politics. "Our family has always been involved. Otis was one of the early citizens of this town. Our family owned the water works and did a lot for the town back then to help it get established. Otis's wife, my great-grandmother, was the postmistress."

Tillman, 34, currently manages Coulee Dam Concrete and has served on the Elmer City council for about four years, having moved back to the area from western Washington in 2012.

"The biggest thing that concerns me currently is our wastewater situation with Coulee Dam," Tillman said about issues he faces as mayor. "Whether that gets resolved by us building our own station or coming to agreeable terms with Coulee Dam, time will tell."

Tillman also listed upgrading infrastructure, including roads and the water system, as being among his goals while in office, "whether that's through becoming more self sustainable, grants, or other things."

Elmer City will be accepting letters of interest for his now-open spot on the council.

Tillman can be reached by emailing elmercitymayorsoffice@gmail.com.