Residents of urban Washington County will get a new voice on the Metro Council on Thursday.

The seven-member regional council will interview candidates and vote to fill its District 4 seat at a special meeting at Beaverton City Hall starting at 10 a.m. The council may swear in the new member that same day, OPB reported.

The seat opened after Juan Carlos González was elevated to Metro Council President on June 3. González had represented District 4 since 2018, covering much of urban Washington County including Beaverton, Hillsboro, and surrounding communities west of Portland.

"We have to show Oregonians we are capable of making this region affordable and prosperous for all our residents," González said upon accepting the Council President role in June.

Whoever is appointed will serve only through the end of 2026. González won the May 2026 primary for the full four-year Council President term beginning January 2027; his current appointment fills the remainder of former President Lynn Peterson's term after she resigned in March.

The District 4 seat carries weight beyond its six-month duration. Metro oversees regional transportation planning, land use, parks, and the Supportive Housing Services fund, which directs tens of millions of dollars annually toward homelessness services across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties.

The council adopted its fiscal year 2026-27 budget on June 18, meaning the new councilor steps into an active spending cycle.

The names of candidates who applied for the seat have not been publicly confirmed. The council formally declared the vacancy by passing Resolution No. 26-5617 at its June 4 meeting.

The Thursday, July 9, meeting includes a public hearing where residents can testify in person or electronically. Speakers get three minutes. To sign up in advance, call 503-813-7591 or email [email protected].

Written comments can also be submitted to that email address. Those appearing in person may fill out a card in the Council Chamber at Beaverton City Hall.

The meeting location itself is notable. Metro Council typically meets at the Metro Regional Center in Portland, but Thursday's session is in the heart of District 4.

The appointment marks the second Metro Council vacancy in 2026, following Peterson's departure. Since the current council structure took effect in 2003, there have been seven vacancies total, according to Metro records.