He’s been there before and he is now seated on the Issaquah City Council again, albeit for a short term.

Joe Forkner was chosen by the council to serve out the remainder of the council seat vacated by Mark Mullet, who was elected to the State Senate in District 5 in the November election. To continue service, he will have to run this coming November when the seat expires.

Seven candidates were vying for the seat. Forkner has seven years prior experience on the Issaquah City Council, including serving during the previous attempt to annex Klahanie, a current issue. He’s also been very visible in shaping the Central Issaquah Plan, and attended all of the budget hearings for the 2013 budget. Forkner said he felt he was appointed because of his prior experience.

The decision came down to he and engineer Mary Lou Pauly, a member of the city’s development commission since 1994. Forkner is a 22-year resident of Issaquah who worked for the city of Issaquah from 1990-1997, first for operations and maintenance and then for the engineering department.

“There were great skills in all the applicants,” said Mayor Ava Frisinger. “It’s a labor of love that the council provides.”