Lacey City Council picks mayor Thursday. Will it be Andy Ryder or someone new?
Lacey City Council, which appoints someone from the council to be mayor every two years, will go through that process Thursday during its first council meeting of 2018.
The council will also appoint a deputy mayor. The current mayor is Andy Ryder, while deputy mayor is Cynthia Pratt. Both have served two terms in those roles.
Also to be sworn in Thursday: Carolyn Cox, the newest member of the council after she defeated candidate Ken Balsley in November’s general election to win the seat vacated by longterm councilman Virgil Clarkson.
Cox is a former member of the city’s planning commission.
Although Clarkson is retiring from the council, he got one more shot at being mayor after he was appointed Dec. 21 in recognition of his 19 years of service to the council and city. His short fourth term as mayor ran through the end of December.
Clarkson first joined the council in July 1998.
Lacey City Council meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lacey City Hall, 420 College St. SE.
Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403, @rolf_boone
This story was originally published December 31, 2017 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Lacey City Council picks mayor Thursday. Will it be Andy Ryder or someone new?."