Schwing Is Elected Mayor, Outlines Goals

Third-term City Council member Mark Schwing has been elected the city’s mayor for the coming year.

In his acceptance remarks, Schwing said one of his top priorities will be to improve relations between the council and the public. “I hope we can all learn to work together,” he said.

In his first action as mayor, Schwing declared an end to the practice of requiring members of the public to fill out cards if they wish to address the council during its meetings.

That move was met with applause from those in the audience at this week’s meeting.

Many residents had objected to the system, established last summer, saying that it was too formal.

Schwing outlined several other council goals for the coming year, among them completing the Eastside Sports Complex and Arroyo Park.

He also said he would like the council to annex more county islands and further its efforts in the area of business retention.

Barbara Kiley, recently elected to the council for a second time, was chosen mayor pro tem.