Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
Brian Gander is on the verge of taking over as mayor of Gates.
Gander, once the Nov. 8 election results are certified on Dec. 5, will be sworn in as mayor at the City Council’s January meeting, acting mayor Pat Rahm told The Canyon Weekly on Tuesday.
Rahm, the council president, was elevated to acting mayor upon the death Sept. 29 of Ron Carmickle. Carmickle, 70, was running unopposed for a second two-year term but remained on the ballot after his passing because they were printed earlier.
Gander was the top vote-getter on a write-in basis, easily besting Carmickle and more than a dozen other candidates who received votes. Gander also was on the ballot to retain his council seat and was elected there as well, as were incumbent Tonya Chamberlain and newcomer Donald Mann, who was seeking the seat of Liz McCall, who resigned Sept. 15.
Once Gander is sworn in as mayor and Rahm returns to his council president position there will remain one vacancy to fill. The seat for the four-year term will be filled via appointment, Rahm said, citing the city charter.
Chamberlain was the leading council vote-getter with 146 (37.92 percent), with Gander and Mann each drawing 111 (28.83 percent).
