The drum roll of change was completed Monday as new era of leadership took over the Maple Valley City Council.
Councilman Noel Gerken was elected mayor by a 4-2 vote of the council and Councilwoman Victoria Laise Jonas was voted in as deputy mayor.
Prior to the mayor and deputy mayor vote, Councilman Bill Allison, Councilwoman Erin Weaver and Jonas took the oath of office from municipal Judge Stephen Rochon.
Once the oath of office ceremony was complete, Allison nominated Gerken for mayor and Councilwoman Linda Johnson nominated Jonas.
Raising their hands for Gerken was Jonas, Weaver, Allison and Gerken.
Johnson and Councilman Layne Barnes voted for Jonas.
Following the vote for mayor, nominations were taken for deputy mayor. Weaver nominated Jonas and Johnson nominated Barnes.
Barnes received one vote from Johnson and Jonas won the position with five votes – Gerken, Allison, Weaver, Barnes and Jonas.
Gerken is the second mayor in Maple Valley’s 12 years since incorporation. Laure Iddings had served as mayor since 1997. She resigned both her council and mayor’s seat Jan. 1.
Following the November general election results, it appeared Iddings would not be voted in as mayor for another two-year term.
In the November general election, Allison beat Jim Flynn, Weaver won over incumbent David Pilgrim and Jonas cruised to a fourth term over Stanette Marie Rose.
The City Council has 90 days to appoint a member to fill the two years left on Idding’s term.
Maple Valley’s form of government is council-manager. The mayor and deputy mayor are elected by the council from within its own ranks every two years at the first meeting in January following the November general election.
At the meeting Gerken said, “This is the first time Maple Valley has had new leadership. It is really a watershed event.”
Gerken listed a series of changes he hoped to see in the next two years including “proactive governance” and “striving for transparency and accountability.”
The mayor said he wanted to discuss televising council meetings.
Gerken also noted he wanted to see the council work “collaborately with the city staff.
Jonas said at the meeting, “as we begin a new decade in our city’s history, I am excited about prospects for all of us, our City Council, our remarkable staff and our community collectively working together to move our city forward in a positive direction.”
