The Bainbridge Island City Council has picked a former city employee to fill the vacant South Ward city council seat.

At the close of a five-hour meeting that included online interviews with a large field of candidates for the post, the council chose Christy Carr as the city’s newest councilwoman.

Carr, 49, is a former city of Bainbridge employee.

There were 10 applicants for the position, including some who have been vocal critics of the city and its approval of development projects on the island.

Nine were interviewed by the council at Tuesday’s meeting.

Carr, however, has watched the city’s growth from the other side of the permit counter. She worked for the city from 2014 through July 2019 as a planner, associate planner, and senior long-range planner.

She is currently a senior member of the land-use review team for the city of Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections.

In her submittal package for the position, Carr said the most pressing issue for Bainbridge is dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. Beyond that, other major issues facing the city include climate change, affordable housing, and sustainable transportation.

“I am a nearly 20-year island resident with a strong record of community service,” she wrote in her application. “I have no specific or personal agenda beyond raising my hand to help the city council achieve the community’s vision.”

Carr is currently the president of Sustainable Bainbridge and a former president of Friends of the Farms.

The other applicants were James Halbrook, Thomas W. Hemphill, Wesley Hemphill, Denise Kulak, Ashley Mathews, Lisa Neal, John Ogden, John Sloat Jr., and Chris Snow.

The South Ward seat was left vacant by the resignation of Matthew Tirman in February.

The city council is expected to confirm Carr to the seat at the next council meeting on May 12.