Manhattan Beach : New Mayor Takes Over

Outgoing Mayor Jim Walker handed the mayor’s gavel to Councilman Gil Archuletta Tuesday night.

Councilwoman Jan Dennis, who was elected to the council along with Archuletta in April, 1984, was unanimously chosen to serve as mayor pro tem. She will become mayor when Archuletta’s 9-month term expires as part of the council’s regular rotation of the largely ceremonial job.

Archuletta, in a short statement, said he hoped to encourage public participation in city issues, and listed traffic, density, congestion, parking and building-code enforcement as top priorities.

Walker, who served as mayor since February, called the city “a neat place to live and a neat place to be a public official.” He encouraged others to seek public office.