New Lake City mayor promises 'clean slate'

• PHOTO: Dunbar

Lake City's new mayor, Jerry Dunbar (center), was sworn in Monday. Dunbar is flanked by Andru Peters (left) and Mary Lou Waltman.

Talk about it

LAKE CITY — Jerry Dunbar was sworn in Monday as Lake City's new mayor.

Dunbar's arrival marks the beginning of a new era and hope that communications between the mayor and council members will improve.

He succeeds Katie Himanga, who served as mayor four years.

“We are going to wipe the slate clean on past differences and more forward in a positive direction,” Dunbar said. “We have a lot of challenges and opportunities ahead of us. I want to build a team that will work together in a united effort to serve the best interests of our community.”

Re-elected council woman, Mary Lou Waltman, and two new city council members, Andru Peters and Mark Spence, who will replace Keith Draz and Dawn Heitman were also sworn in Monday.

One of the biggest challenges the new council faces is budget cuts, said Council member Ray St. Martin.

“There are a lot of really important issues we will be dealing with this coming year such as cuts in Local Government Aid,” he said. “We are in the service business. We need to focus on putting a budget together so we can deliver the service. I’ve seen Jerry operate before and he will get this council working as a team and keep us moving in the right direction.”

Despite being ousted from office, Himanga said she will continue to serve the Lake City community.

“My interest in Lake City doesn’t end today, she said. “I will still be very involved in community enhancement projects and other things I care about. I wish the mayor and new council members the best of luck. They face some big challenges ahead.”

Tags: news, lake, city, mayor, jerry, dunbar, katie, himanga