By Brent Champaco
LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The first regular Lakewood City Council meeting of 2014 was a busy one. The City ceremoniously welcomed its new judge, as well as welcomed back its Mayor, Deputy and recently elected members of the City Council on Monday night.
First, hours after taking the bench for the first time, Lakewood Municipal Court Judge Grant Blinn was officially sworn into office. Blinn comes to the City of Lakewood from the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office, where he most recently served as homicide chief. He will preside over the Municipal Court of Lakewood, University Place and Steilacoom.
His first duty after that was to swear in the Lakewood City Councilmembers who were elected into office last year: Deputy Mayor Jason Whalen, Councilmember Mike Brandstetter, Councilmember Mary Moss and Councilmember John Simpson. Whalen, Brandstetter and Moss were re-elected to their positions, while Simpson was elected to the vacant seat of former Councilmember Helen McGovern. (For information on Lakewood City Councilmembers, visit goo.gl/tpMidc)
Finally, the Lakewood City Council re-elected Mayor Don Anderson and Deputy Mayor Whalen to their respective positions for another two years. Mayor Anderson was elected to his position in early 2013, when then-Mayor Douglas Richardson was elected to the Pierce County Council. Whalen was also chosen for the position at the time.
On Monday night, the Lakewood City Council also read a proclamation declaring Jan. 20 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, heard reports from the Clover Park School District and the Lakewood Youth Council, as well as a presentation from South Sound 911 Director Andrew Neiditz.
To view a gallery of Monday night’s meeting, visit goo.gl/2YoPeL.