Bob Youngman received hearty applause and a few cheers after being officially sworn into the Sun Valley City Council on Tuesday morning by Mayor Wayne Willich.
And Willich said Youngman should sign the agreement for service immediately instead of waiting until later.
"In case he changes his mind," joked Councilman Joan Lamb.
Youngman then took the seat of Councilman Dave Chase, who didn't run for re-election in November after a term of two years.
"Dave, you're free as a bird," Willich said.
Chase said his goodbyes and left City Hall, but not before Lamb jested, "Get that grin off your face."
Unlike Chase, Council President Nils Ribi wanted to keep his council position and was re-elected after earning the most votes of five candidates. Ribi received 382 votes to Youngman's 327, but both won because two seats were up for election.
Ribi said at the meeting that he no longer wanted to be council president and nominated Councilman Dewayne Briscoe to take over. Briscoe has been a councilman since the beginning of 2007.
Youngman's first council decision was to second Briscoe's nomination. Briscoe's approving vote for himself cinched the decision, but one council member—Joan Lamb—wasn't on board. Attempts by the Express to contact Lamb following the meeting to ask her about her "no" vote were unsuccessful.
Before the issue of a new council president was brought up at the meeting, Ribi called for support of a new Sun Valley City Council tradition similar to the U.S. Supreme Court's "conference handshake."
Starting in the late 19th century, all of the justices shake hands at the beginning of Supreme Court meetings as a reminder that differences of opinion would not prevent them from focusing on justice.
"I offer this as a way to start each meeting," Ribi said. "Even though we may have differences on policy matters, we'll work together."
The mayor and councilors all stood up to shake hands.
"We can start on that right now," Willich said.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Sun Valley Mayor Wayne Willich, left, swears newly elected City Councilman Bob Youngman into office at the year’s first council meeting Tuesday. Photo by David N. Seelig
