Michael R. Scott is the city of Bainbridge Island’s newest council member.

Scott was chosen from a pack of five candidates Thursday after a night of interviews before six members of the city council.

He will serve in the seat left vacant by the resignation of David Ward, who stepped down in December as part of a settlement agreement that ended a public records lawsuit against the city in which Ward, Councilman Steve Bonkowski and former councilwoman Debbi Lester were named. It was the first resignation in the city’s history.

The other candidates were Monica Aufrecht, Joe Levan, Gary Pettersen and John Green.

A sixth candidate, Greg Millerd, bowed out due to a previous family commitment that made him unable to attend Thursday’s special council meeting.

The new council member will serve in the Central Ward seat until the results of the Nov. 3 General Election are certified.

Scott, 58, has been a Bainbridge resident since 1989. He was a member of the Bainbridge Island School Board from 2001 to 2004.

A lawyer who received his juris doctor degree from Stanford Law School in 1982, he currently is the chairman of the Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson Litigation Group.

The council picked the new councilor at the close of a special meeting where the candidates were given the chance to make an introductory 7-minute presentation before answering questions from the council.

The six members of the council then retreated into a closed-door executive session to talk about the qualifications of the candidates.

They returned to an open public session after 32 minutes to consider nominations for the vacancy.

Bonkowski nominated Aufrecht for the post, while Councilman Roger Townsend nominated Scott and Councilman Val Tollefson nominated Levan.

Bonkowski said he was particularly impressed about Aufrecht’s involvement with the off-leash dog issue when the topic was before the Bainbridge parks district.

“I think she will do an outstanding job as a council person,” Bonkowski said.

Townsend said he was encouraged by Scott’s willingness to run for the position in the next election.

“I think the issue of having more lawyers is both a positive and a negative,” Townsend said.

With three lawyers on the council already — Councilwoman Sarah Blossom, Tollefson and Townsend — the comment drew chuckles in the audience of about a dozen.

“Some of my best friends are lawyers,” Bonkowski quipped.

Tollefson said Levan was well-equipped to join the council, given his experience working in government.

With nominations closed, the council voted for Scott, with four votes.

Townsend, Councilwoman Anne Blair, Councilman Wayne Roth and Blossom voted to appoint him to the position. Bonkowski voted for Aufrecht, and Tollefson voted for Levan.