The Montesano City Council has selected Montesano businessman Tony Chung to fill a council vacancy.

Chung won out the appointment over Sarah Glorian, a local attorney who works with nonprofit organizations. Chung was voted in 3-2, with council members Nikki King and Dave Skaramuca opposing the appointment.

The vacancy came with the September resignation of Lori Benedict, who had been appointed in June to fill a vacancy caused by the April resignation of Pat Herrington.

Prior to an executive session, the council interviewed both candidates. Ideally, Mayor Vini Samuel aimed to allow the same amount of time for each candidate’s response.

Chung, who operates Monte Square which includes the Chevron gas station, Guest House Inn and Suites and Monte RV Park said he would bring a business-owner perspective to the council.

“I want to provide a business insight to the council. I plan on allocating a lot of time — with issues that I don’t know much about, I’m willing to do the research and learn about it,” Chung said. “As somebody who invests a lot of private capital in the city and has a lot at stake in terms of my business and the people I employee, it’s not just about me. There are a lot of people that rely on us doing well.”

Glorian said the skill she could bring to the council is years of working with underprivileged and fringe groups which has helped shape her perspective.

“I have a unique perspective about the spectrum of people in this community. I’m middle class. I have low-income clients… There’s a big picture piece, and I tend to be one to see the grays — I don’t like to see in black and white,” Glorian said. “I would bring a broad perspective.”

During his comments following the motion to appoint Chung, Councilman Dan Wood, who also is the executive director of the Washington State Dairy Federation, said Glorian’s perspective might be redundant.

“I live in the nonprofit world and I have to raise my budget for myself and my staff and my operations. I have been in that position a couple of times with that sole responsibility in my career,” Wood said. “What I think we are most lacking is a deeper understanding of a major capital investment in the community and what that risk is like and how necessary that is.”

Chung’s family business, Monte RV Park, currently is in an ongoing dispute with the city. The city states the RV park has added extra RV spots without permission. Chung and other representatives for the RV park say permission was granted for expansion, but the city does not have paperwork.

While city administration is attempting to enforce municipal code and sort out the confusion about the expansion, Wood has brought forward a discussion about changing the municipal code to allow for longer RV stays, possibly changing the code (which currently addresses campgrounds) to better define RVs.

Chung said he was mindful of the potential conflict of the ongoing discussions regarding the business.

“I definitely can not be part of the ordinance issue with the RV park — that’s for one,” Chung said.

Following the brief executive session, Wood moved to appointed Chung to the vacancy.

Chung will be sworn in during the next council meeting on Nov. 15.