The following are the current city councilmembers:

Francis Benjamin, Councilmember, Term: 2012-2015, Ward 1 

Francis enjoys life in Pullman and the opportunities it provides. He and his wife, Heidi, came to Pullman in 1984 while attending the University of Idaho and stayed after graduation, finding Pullman a great place to raise a family.  Francis has worked previously as a broadcast engineer, an electronics project engineer, and a technology consultant.  Since 1987, he has designed psychological research experiments and provided technology support for the Psychology Department at Washington State University.  He also actively pursues research in the area of political interactions.

Francis has degrees in Electrical Engineering, Psychology and Theological Studies.  He earned the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership from AWC in September 2008 and received the Certificate of Municipal Leadership in January 2006.

Being active and involved in our community is important to Francis, so he has served where he could make a difference.  Some of these areas include: Whitman County Red Cross Board, the city of Pullman Environmental Quality and Human Rights Commissions, Meals-on-Wheels, Pullman Chamber's Lentil Festival Committee, Boy Scout and Venture Scout Leader, Pullman Chamber's Economic Development & Governmental Affairs Committee, Palouse Knowledge Corridor, Southeast Washington Economic Development Association and in his church.

Francis and his wife, Heidi, are in the process of raising three children.  Their oldest, Jeremy, is proudly serving as a Marine, Joel is pursuing an education degree, and Gailynn is in high school.

He cares for people and wants to make a difference in lives in and around Pullman.  Francis says, "The people you meet and the relationships you develop are what makes Pullman a special place."  He looks forward to continuing his work with the community to build relationships, to develop business opportunities and to improve Pullman.

Jeff Hawbaker, Councilmember, Term: 2010-2013, Ward 3

After growing up in various parts of the country, Jeff received his BSEE from the University of Missouri-Rolla (now MS&T).  He went to work at Westinghouse Electric in Baltimore before transferring to College Station, Texas, where he received his Masters degree in Computer Science.  Jeff held numerous software-related engineering positions at Westinghouse before taking a contracting position at a Motorola semiconductor fabrication plant in Oak Hill, Texas.  Jeff came to Pullman in 1992 to start work at SEL on product development in R&D.  Jeff has watched SEL grow from about 75 employees to over 1500.  He has been involved in numerous product launches and upgrades during which he received one patent and has another patent pending.  Currently, Jeff is a development manager at SEL.

Jeff and his wife Debbie have found Pullman to be a great place to raise their family.  Their daughters have enjoyed and benefited from the safe, challenging, and rewarding experiences they have received from the Pullman School District.  Likewise, they have enjoyed the activities available to them through the Parks and Recreation department, and through Girl Scouts.

Debbie has devoted much of her time to volunteer activities in the schools, at church, and with Girl Scouts.  Jeff decided it was time for him to give back to the community as well.  So in the spring of 2009, he became active in the Kiwanis Club and then ran for the open city council seat.  Jeff enjoyed getting to know his neighbors during the campaign and looks forward to representing them in Pullman’s quest for constant improvement.

Bill Paul, Councilmember, Term: 2010-2013, Ward 1

Bill was appointed to fill the council position of Floyd Larson during April 2000 and was then elected to the position for the next four-year term at the following general election in November. He was re-elected in November 2005. Bill has had 45 years experience as a business owner and operator: 15 years as a Chevron dealer for Standard Oil Co. and 30 years with Farmers Insurance Agency here in Pullman. Bill has also served as a member of WSU’s Risk Management and Insurance Advisory Board and as an adjunct lecturer at WSU for Property and Casualty Insurance classes.

Bill has received his Association of Washington Cities Municipal Leadership training program certificate.

Moving to Pullman in 1967 with his family, Bill has served in many community organizations: United Way, Pullman Chamber of Commerce, Pullman City Capital Improvement Committee, past president of Pullman Rotary Club, and past president of Boys Scouts of America, Lewis and Clark Council.

Bill and his wife, Rachel, have raised four children here in Pullman. Kristine, Timothy, John and Susanne all have graduated from Pullman public schools. “Pullman has been very good to us and I believe in giving back to the community and helping to maintain the wonderful quality of life that we have here.” Bill enjoys family activities, travel, golf and being a Cougar sports fan.

Derrick Skaug, Councilmember, Term: 2012-2013, At-Large Appointee

Derrick Skaug is a lifelong resident of eastern, Washington, a senior political science major at Washington State University, born and raised in Colbert, Washington, and a first generation college student. Derrick has lived in Pullman since 2008.

Derrick has been twice elected to the ASWSU Senate as both an off-campus and all-campus senator. He was elected by his fellow senators to the leadership position of the ASWSU Senate Pro-Tempore. As Pro-Tempore, he oversees the Senate, chairs the Rules Council, and serves as the de-facto leader of the Senate. He also currently serves on the University Recreation Board of Directors and previously served on the President's Student Advisory Board. He also worked as a University Recreation Marketing Intern. He was a former columnist for the Daily Evergreen and he continues to submit guest commentaries to the paper.

Derrick has also sponsored several resolutions concerning student safety and participated in the "Take Back the Night" march the last two years. Supporting the multicultural community is extremely important to him. He currently sits on the Council of Multicultural Student Presidents. He also worked as a volunteer for Women's Transit where he helped ensure WSU students had a safe ride home at night.

Derrick is honored and excited by the amazing opportunity. He hopes to use his leadership in ASWSU to strengthen the tie between the students and the greater Pullman community.

Derrick values education, public safety, and effective public transportation as his main priorities. In 20 years he sees a vibrant Pullman with a booming economy. He sees an increase in public transportation, public education, and sustainable initiatives across the city. He sees WSU and Pullman both succeeding in harmony and providing economic stability to the region. He sees high tech industries developing in Pullman and an increase of the size of the city both in population and land space.

Derrick believes in going out to where people are. He attends community events, cultural programs, and city activities. Derrick also posts office hours nearly every day in the Compton Union Building. Derrick is a service-based leader and works for transparency and accessibility. Please do not hesitate to contact him at anytime with suggestions, questions, or advice. He always answers emails and return calls and looks forward to hearing from citizens.

Nathan D. Weller, Councilmember, Term: 2012-2015, Ward 2

I was motivated to run for office by my passion to serve the community.  I have lived, gone to school and worked in Pullman my entire life.  Pullman is a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and attend school; it is now my time to step up to the plate of public service, to add my voice, as a long-term resident and WSU graduate, to city government.

My parents always taught me that if I see a problem I should not just complain but work to find a solution.  I have seen the many different sides of Pullman and Whitman County, having grown-up in Pullman, graduated from Pullman High School and then WSU with a degree in Psychology and now employed full time at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL).  I became involved in the local community at an early age and now I am a member of the Whitman County Historical Society, Knights of Columbus, the Pomona Grange and the Blue Ribbon Economic Funds Committee.  In addition, in the last two years during my campaigns for City Council (2007) and Whitman County Commissioner (2006), I have talked with thousands of residents in Pullman and in the surrounding communities and they have shared with me their thoughts and concerns about the place we all call home.  I bring to City Council the energy, drive and determination to unite Pullman residents in order to solve the problems and issues that we as a community currently face and will face in the future as Pullman continues to grow.  I am a consensus builder and no single person or organization has all of the answers, but we as a total community with consensus can solve any problem.

My vision of Pullman is one of a vibrant and diverse community: a place with an economic base broad enough that the children and grandchildren of our residents can find good paying jobs with good benefits; a place that welcomes people from around the country and the world; a place that WSU students call home and feel like they are part of the Pullman community; and finally a safe and clean city with opportunities and services for young and old alike. 

During my campaign my team and I visited nearly every residence in Ward 2.  I also hope to work closely with the ASWSU, Faculty senate and the GPSA. These three groups represent a very large part of the Pullman population.

Throughout my life, my family provided to me opportunities to travel extensively throughout the U.S. and world.  I bring the knowledge, experience and an appreciation of differences among cultures gained from these trips to my position on city council.  I also run a small business and work full-time at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.  My hobbies include reading, writing, weightlifting and serving others.

Patricia A. "Pat" Wright, Councilmember, Appointment Term: 2012-2015, Ward 3

I have been a resident of Pullman since September 1975 and have been actively involved in the community since January 1989.  As a result of that involvement I have been exposed to many different aspects of the community and felt ready to move that involvement to the next level.  When the possibility that the Ward 3 position would be vacant, I felt it was the right time to submit my name for consideration.

I have been actively involved in the community for 18 years, serving on the boards of directors of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Pullman and the Pullman Education Foundation as well as serving on the Pullman Civil Service Commission.  In addition, my position as General Manager of The Bookie, provided me ample opportunity for interaction with both the city and Washington State University.  As a result, I have an understanding of many of the issues facing the city and the community and I believe my sound analytical abilities along with strong communication skills would enable me to understand problems, solicit input, seek reasonable solutions and articulate outcomes to affected constituencies.

In my vision for Pullman 20 years from now, I see, first and foremost, the relationship between Pullman and Washington State University continuing to thrive.  It is very rare to have the strong “town and gown” ties that have been developed between these two entities and it is in our mutual best interests to foster and enhance that partnership.  Secondly, I feel that Pullman has the potential of being a destination location with the growth and development of conference and convention facilities, recreational opportunities and increased shopping, dining and entertainment venues. We must be prepared to sustain the level of growth that has occurred over the last twenty years into the next twenty and be able to promote our community as extremely livable for all age groups, a safe place to live and to retire where businesses succeed and residents prosper.

My husband, Ray, has been a Washington State University Animal Sciences professor since 1975.  We have 2 children, Caroline, 27, a project accountant for The Gap Corporation in Albuquerque, N.M. and 2002 graduate of WSU; and Joe, 25, a second- year law student at Santa Clara University and 2005 graduate of the University of Washington.  We enjoy our two English Springer Spaniels, love to travel and are avid college football fans.