Newly elected City Councilmembers were sworn in to the dais in front of community members, families and friends at the La Cañada Flintridge City Council meeting Tuesday.
Keith Eich, Stephanie Fossan and Jeanne Hobson took the oath of office after voters elected them to the City Council following the March 5 primary.
The trio assumed their seats on the dais as outgoing Councilman Rick Gunter and Councilwoman Terry Walker were honored for their civic duties. Gunter said this is the first time in 23 years there are two women serving on the City Council.
Eich congratulated both Fossan and Hobson and provided some advice.
“Remember, it’s not a competition up here. Like Mike said, it’s like a big family, dysfunctional sometimes, but fun,” said Eich. “Our job is to review existing policy and improve and make our city better. So, I hope you’ll join us in doing that.”
Hobson said she is looking forward to working in her new position alongside fellow Councilmembers and city staff.
“I especially want to thank the community for their care and concern for this beautiful city,” said Hobson. “I’m excited to start this new job and I really look forward to helping our city stay healthy and prosperous.”
Fossan recalled that she was a bit hesitant to put herself out there and run for City Council and was thankful that the community welcomed her with overwhelming support.
“The idea of doing that was quite daunting,” said Fossan of the election process. “I was struck over and over again during this campaign by the warmth of the embrace that I received from our community as I met and reconnected with our wonderful community members here in La Cañada. And I could not appreciate more the support that I received, and it just made me all the more excited to be taking on this job. So, thank you all.”
Fossan also highlighted the farewells Gunter and Walker received as they made their way out of the Council chambers.
“I am also reminded by the beautiful tributes that Terry and Rick got this evening, and that this job requires a lot of work and a lot of thoughtfulness, which those two completely brought to the job,” said Fossan. “And I look forward to trying to achieve their level of success, as I’m doing the work here today as well.”
In its first decision as Council, the newly elected leaders nominated Michael Davitt as mayor and Kim Bowman as mayor pro tem.
Davitt, who was elected to the Council in 2011, will serve as mayor for a third time. Meanwhile, it will be the first time Bowman will serve as mayor pro tem after being elected to the Council in 2022.
First published in the April 18 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
