ARLINGTON — On June 29, the Arlington City Council appointed Austin B. DeFreece III to fill the seat left vacant when council member Dick Butner passed away May 15.

The council reviewed seven applications and interviewed six candidates for the vacant position, including not only DeFreece, but also Michael Hopson, Jacob Kukuk, Donald Vanney Jr., Philip Lane, Carson Tavenner and Joseph Coulter.

After interviewing the candidates, Mayor Barbara Tolbert said, “The council now has the most difficult decision — to choose one person to fill the vacant seat, when we have six highly qualified candidates that could all readily fill the seat.”

After 20 minutes of closed-door deliberations, the council voted 6-0 to appoint DeFreece.

Upon his appointment, DeFreece said: “I am truly honored for this selection. I am excited to get started and give back to my community.”

DeFreece and his family are three-year residents of Arlington. He serves as corporate counsel for HTC in Bellevue.

DeFreece will be sworn in at the start of the Monday, July 6, council meeting at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 110 E. Third St. in Arlington.