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.

Santiago Ramos is one of 17 candidates vying for the seat.

Background: Ramos’s family moved from Mexico to Kirkland when he was 9 years old. He went through the Lake Washington School District, from Lakeview Elementary to Lake Washington High School, where he graduated in 1998. He currently lives in the South Rose Hill neighborhood.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Western Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

Ramos ran for state representative, Pos. 2 against former Rep. Deb Eddy in 2006. Eddy defeated Ramos is the primary election, garnering 73 percent more votes. He also ran for the legislative seat again last year but dropped out of the race shortly after he announced his bid.

Experience: As a small business owner, Ramos understands small businesses. He is a commercial real estate broker and director of property management for Summerfield Commercial in Bellevue, overseeing more than 30 employees and nearly 30 buildings.

He also serves as chair on the City of Kirkland’s Human Services Advisory Board; chair of the 48th Democratic Legislative District; and is a member of the Washington State GAAP Committee, the Eastside Salvation Army Advisory Board, the University of Washington UWAA Multicultural Alumni Partnership Board and is a board member of the King County Young Democrats.

Reasons for running: “I grew up in Kirkland, attended its public schools, and have watched Kirkland grow into the family-friendly community that its residents value,” said Ramos, age 32. “I am an active member of the community and believe in giving back.”

In addition, he said his background as a local businessman and a bi-lingual, Hispanic, first-generation college graduate, allows him to bring a unique perspective to the council seat.

Top issues facing the city: He said many segments of the city’s increasing diversity are unaware of the city’s responsibilities. As a council member he hopes to increase outreach to those populations and create meaningful communication.

Other issues include implementing a balanced Comprehensive Plan and pursuing a dedicated funding source for affordable housing.