Tri-Cities councilman with ‘deep roots’ in community is stepping down
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pasco Councilman Peter Harpster resigns after buying home outside city limits.
- Harpster cites family growth and move; resignation effective Oct. 26, 2025.
- The city council will fill the at-large seat as it addresses budget and growth.
Pasco Councilman Peter Harpster is resigning from his post after purchasing a new home outside city limits, making him no longer eligible to serve.
Harpster emailed the city council Tuesday night about his decision. His resignation will go into effect Sunday, Oct. 26, according to a Wednesday announcement from city staff.
He served in the city council’s sole at-large seat.
“Ever since I was a young child growing up in Pasco, I wanted to be on city council. Over time the ‘why’ changed, but the goal always remained — mainly because I love this city so much, the people in it, and the people who work for it,” Harpster said in a Wednesday statement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from city staff and appreciate their dedication to our residents. While this decision is bittersweet, I look forward to continuing to serve Pasco in other ways,” he continued.
Harpster’s time on council
It’s been a whirlwind 21 months for the 34-year-old councilman. In that time, he and the governing body tackled budget deficits, debated fluoride in drinking water, cracked down on speeders, increased water rights fees, dissolved a dysfunctional downtown association and hired a new city manager.
Harpster was also the councilman who penned the controversial proclamation honoring Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated last month at a campus speaking event in Utah. With the resolution, he hoped to encourage tough conversations between people who disagreed.
Mayor David Milne said Harpster’s “passion for Pasco and his deep roots in the community” shows in his words and actions.
“His energy, thoughtfulness, and commitment to collaboration have been an asset to the Council and to our residents. We thank him for his service and wish him and his family the very best,” Milne said in a statement.
Milne and the five other councilmembers will now be tasked with seeking a replacement to serve out the rest of Harpster’s term, which expires in 2027.
Harpster rode into office following a 2023 election that saw he and his opponent raise a mind-boggling $40,000 combined. The land development consultant and U.S. Air Force veteran won about 58% of the vote with a campaign that focused on addressing city growth, homelessness and drug use.
Last year, Harpster’s neighbor was arrested after spewing a profanity-laden death threat at he and his wife, though those threats were not related to his work on council. Prosecutors would later drop those charges against Robert Martinolich on Harpster’s request.
Harpster says finding a replacement for former City Manager Adam Lincoln ranks high among his list of cherished accomplishments. After a five-month search, the city council hired Harold Stewart from Minot, North Dakota.
“That was probably one of the most stressful processes and decisions we’ve made,” he said, adding that Stewart has brought a “breath of fresh air” to the city.
Harpster’s vacancy adds to a spree of recent departures. Former Mayor Pete Serrano resigned from city council in August to work as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern Washington District, and city attorney Eric Ferguson plans to leave his contracted partnership with the city at the end of this year.
Harpster says recent increases to the city’s development fees were important to set the city up for future success.
“Fees and taxes like those are never fun, but it’s good to explain the process of why we’re making the move,” he said.
Harpster says he and his family are moving outside of Pasco city limits to grow. He and his wife are expecting their third child soon, and they’re planning for more. While they found their perfect home, Harpster still characterized the move outside city limits as “a bummer.”
In his waning days on the city council, Harpster is encouraging more civic engagement. He says more citizens should come out to city council meetings and see how the sausage is really made.
“Our staff at the city of Pasco, they work so hard, so many hours,” he said. “Much of what is seen in the Facebook comments is just misunderstandings. So I would just encourage people to come to council meetings… and talk to the folks who are there.”
