Updated: Mayor Jim Pearman to Leave Office on Feb. 1

Mercer Island Mayor and City Councilman Jim Pearman will step down from office Feb. 1 to take a position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Pearman made the decision to leave the council after carfeully considering his future with both the city and FEMA.

"It's been brewing for a while," Pearman said.

Pearman accepted the positon with FEMA earlier in the year. He will be working as a mediator and recently completed on-site training with the agency.

Since he may be called upon to help in a disaster area at any moment, and will perhaps spend as much as four or six months away from home next year, Pearman decided that he could not work for FEMA and be an effective council member and mayor at the same time.

"It just wasn't going to work," Pearman said.

Pearman, 54, has been a council member since 2001 and has served as mayor since 2008. He has worked as a mediator for King County since 2002. Joining FEMA is the realization of a long-time ambition for Pearman.

"I feel incredibly fortunate," Pearman said.

Pearman has fond memories of his time on the council. "It was wonderful," he said.

Pearman said that he will be nominating City Councilman Bruce Bassett as his replacement.

"He's a great guy," Pearman said. "I think he'll just do a fabulous job."

Editor's note: This story was updated at 5:00 pm on Wednesday following an interview with Mayor Pearman.