After Bob Sternoff resigned from his Position 2 seat on the Kirkland City Council in March, the council was forced to make a quick decision to appoint a new council member by April 16.

Eric Martenson is one of 17 candidates vying for the seat.

Background: Martenson has lived in Kirkland for more than 50 years and lives in the Rose Hill neighborhood. He graduated from Lake Washington High School and is currently a full-time college student finishing his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Degree in Social Work at Seattle Central Community College.

Experience: Martenson has worked in the food service industry and was promoted to director of food services for an international company based in San Franciso, Calif.

He owned and operated a café in Bellevue through ‘90s and worked for the Lake Washington School District from 2001-2007 as a food service manager and catering coordinator.

Reason for running: He is running for the vacant seat because Kirkland is his hometown and hopes to continue his father’s tradition of giving back. His father, Gene Martenson, served on the city’s Planning Commission.

“I believe my history as a city resident will also contribute to the future of Kirkland,” noted Martenson, who is 60.

Top issues facing the city: The Ballard Terminal Railroad Company’s pending federal lawsuit seeking to stop the city from removing the tracks along the Cross Kirkland Corridor is the city’s top issue.

As a council member he also hopes to help the city continue its focus on redeveloping the Totem Lake Business District, which he says is currently a “wasted asset.”

He also hopes to address the city’s affordable housing issue.