It could be a long night at the Edmonds City Council meeting Tuesday, when Council members decide who will fill the seat left vacant following the death of Peggy Pritchard Olson in November 2009.

The first candidate to receive a four-vote majority wins. The last time there was a vacant council seat, in January 2009 following the resignation of Deanna Dawson, the council went through 37 ballots — all in one evening — before Strom Peterson received the necessary four votes to win the seat.

Among the front runners for the position are former Councilmember Ron Wambolt, who lost in the primary election to newly elected Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas; former council candidate Diane Buckshnis, who ran a close race against Peterson in November and former Councilmember Lora Petso.

Also on Tuesday’s council agenda is a discussion of procedures that would permit “tent city” homeless shelters in conjunction with a religious organization. The council on Dec.15, 2009 adopted a resolution that allowed temporary homeless shelters in Edmonds, but committed to take up the issue of a permanent ordinance regarding homeless shelters in early 2010. Public comment will also be accepted on the topic.

For the complete agenda, visit the council website here.