Cypress : Kanel Elected Mayor as Council Is Seated
Councilman John Kanel was chosen the city’s new mayor Monday as the new City Council was sworn into office.
Kanel, 57, is serving his fifth term on the council and his third term as mayor. The council vote was 4 to 1, with Councilman Gerald Mullen voting against Kanel.
Kanel was appointed to the council to fill a vacancy in 1963. In 1964 he won his first council election and served until 1976. He returned to the council after the 1982 election. Kanel ran unsuccessfully for the 71st Assembly District in 1976, losing to Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress).
He is a self-employed professional sports consultant and has lived in Cypress for 26 years. He replaces Otto J. Lacayo, who served as mayor for four one-year terms.
Elected mayor pro tem in a 5-0 council vote Monday was William Davis, who was elected to the council for the first time Nov. 4.
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