EVERETT – The county Republican Party on Saturday chose three candidates to fill a vacant seat on the Snohomish County Council.

Nate Nehring, Kevin Ashe and Michael Stevens were the names submitted by the county GOP for the council to decide who will join them at the dais.

The party’s precinct committee officers met for a special central committee meeting in the Historic Everett Theater to select three nominees from a field of nine hopefuls.

During brief speeches, the finalist sounded themes of defending conservative values of property rights and fiscal responsibility, while working collaboratively with other council members.

“All of the nominated candidates have qualities and passion that make our party proud,” said Debbie Blodgettt, executive board chairwoman of the county GOP.

Nehring, a teacher, Stanwood planning commissioner and son of Marysville mayor Jon Nehring, said he hopes to draw more young people into the party.

Ashe has served on the Darrington Town Council for 14 years and co-owns the IGA supermarket in town.

Stevens was elected to the Marysville City Council in 2011, an architect who served previously on the planning commission.

The vacancy opened up after Republican Councilman Ken Klein accepted an executive position in Executive Dave Somers’ administration.

The vacant District 1 position covers north Snohomish County including Marysville, Arlington, Darrington, Granite Falls and Stanwood.

The council appointee will need to file in May and win the election in November to start a full four-year term.

Democrats hold a 3-1 edge on the county council. Under the state constitution, the council has 60 days to name Klein’s successor, but if a majority of them cannot agree on one, the governor then has 30 days to choose the nominee from among the three names submitted.

Blodgett said the party hopes that the new county councilman will be sworn in before Jan. 31.