Council Picks Partin for Cypress Mayor

Richard Partin has been named the city’s mayor for the third time in his 10-year career on the City Council.

The council voted unanimously for Partin and elected Councilwoman Joyce C. Nicholson as the new mayor pro tem on a 4-1 vote earlier this week.

Partin, 55, first held the top position in 1984 and again in 1991. He also served as a planning commissioner from 1976 until the city eliminated the commission as a cost-cutting measure in 1979.

Councilman Walter K. Bowman nominated Partin, saying that due to the city’s shrinking budget, an experienced mayor is needed to preside over budget negotiations. “We’re going to be faced with some monumental changes,” Bowman said. “I think (Partin) has the ability to mediate, moderate and make changes that need to be made.”

Partin and the rest of the council agreed.

“We’re going to have a hard year here,” Partin said, referring to the city’s predicted dwindling of funds. “I wish that we could satisfy our employee groups to have better harmony at this time with our shrinking revenues and ever-increasing demands for services by the public. It will be difficult, but I think it can be done.”

Without much explanation, Cecilia L. Age, the past year’s mayor pro tem, cast the lone vote against Nicholson.

“I choose to have some dignity in the political system and simply vote no,” she said.

Despite Age’s vote, Nicholson said she was thrilled about her appointment. “I think it’s wonderful, and I hope I can help Richard and fill in for him when he’s absent. As a team, the whole City Council is going to have a lot of work to do next year in terms of finances,” she said.

In addition to their new posts, Partin and Nicholson will serve as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Redevelopment Agency.

Former Mayor Gail H. Kerry stepped down from the top post at Tuesday’s council meeting, saying she was proud of her accomplishments.

“It was a tough year, but I think it was handled well,” she said. “We’re moving forward with some wonderful ideas as we try to cut the budget without having to cut services.”