The recently elected members of Englewood City Council were sworn in on Dec. 4 and signed their oaths before taking part in the choice of a mayor and mayor pro tem for the new council term.
District 1 Councilmember Othoniel Sierra will continue as mayor as the new council selected him in a 5-2 vote. At-large Councilmembers Kim Wright and Rita Russell voted nay.
Additionally, District 3 Councilmember Joe Anderson was selected as the new mayor pro tem in a 5-2 vote. Russell and Wright voted nay again.
Wright and fellow at-large Councilmember Tena Prange, the two new members of council, officially took their seats at the dais as well.
They both thanked their friends, family, the community and voters for their support in electing them to the council.
The new council also approved the final election results provided by Arapahoe County. In addition to new members Wright and Prange, three incumbents returned as Sierra, Anderson and Russell were reelected.
Prior to the appointment of the new members and the vote of approval for the election results, a reception was held in the lobby of the Englewood Civic Center where Sierra honored and thanked former at-large Councilmembers PJ Kolnik and Jim Woodward for their service.
Woodward said at the reception that he was thankful to his family, friends, fellow councilmembers and the community of Englewood for their support.
“It’s been an enjoyable 11 years, four months and two days,” Woodward said. “I wanted to thank my fellow city council members and the mayor. Every council is different, every single one I’ve been on and this is the sixth one, so it’s always interesting.”
Kolnik thanked Woodward for his guidance as the two sat next to each other on the dais.
“I am really thankful for this experience. It was really an honor to be selected by this council to be a part of this last four months,” said Kolnik, who was chosen by council to replace Cheryl Wink after her abrupt resignation amid a recall threat.
The next regular meeting will be held Dec. 18.
