CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Russell Perdock and Bruno Sabatier were sworn in and took their respective seats on the Clearlake City Council on Monday.
The two were elected to the council Nov. 4.
The swearing-in ceremony originally was to have taken place at the council's regular meeting on Dec. 11, but that meeting was rescheduled to Monday as a result of a heavy rainstorm that led to flooding in the city.
Oaths of office on Monday night were administered by City Clerk Melissa Swanson, who later took the oath herself from City Attorney Ryan Jones in continuance of her service after her reelection in November.
Sabatier garnered 26.1 percent of the vote in the November election while Perdock was seated with 19.8 percent of the vote.
Swanson ran unopposed as the only qualified candidate in the election.
The council recognized outgoing council members Joey Luiz and Jeri Spittler, presenting each with a plaque commemorating their service to the community.
“The community here is very amazing. I know we can overcome our challenges and move forward,” Spittler said.
She followed up with a request that the new council establish a five-day work schedule for city staff and work on subsidizing trash service.
Departing comments from Luiz focused on his gratitude for the support he received during his tenure and the opportunity to serve his community.
Firstly, he thanked his mother, Carolyn, who he said raised him in the Clearlake community “all by herself.”
“I never would have done anything I've done without her,” he said.
Luiz continued with expressions of gratitude for City Manager Joan Phillipe, Public Works Director Doug Herren and City Engineer Bob Galusha, city staff, Clearlake Police Department officers and chief and his fellow council members.
He also thanked the community for electing him to serve. “It was an honor and privilege and I wouldn't trade it for the world,” he said.
In other actions in line with the seating of new members of the council, Denise Loustalot was selected to serve an additional term as mayor.
Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson offered the nomination, which was provided a second by Councilwoman Joyce Overton.
Fortino Dickson said that while she would be honored to serve as mayor, maintaining the continuity and consistency of the council is more important.
She said too many changes at one time may disrupt the direction of the council and city staff, which she said she wished to avoid.
Fortino Dickson also will serve an additional year in her current position. She was nominated by Overton and elected by the council.
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