Local public officials sworn in

Three city councilors, two new and one re-elected, were sworn into office on Wednesday.

Michael Preedin was elected the new mayor by a unanimous vote of the Council at their first meeting of the year, and Nancy Connolly was again elected to serve as council president and will act as mayor in Preedin’s absence. She is beginning her seventh year as a councilor.

Jennifer Letz was elected to a four-year term and Gary Ross to a two-year term. Returning Councilor Andrea Blum will serve for four years.

Letz’s work as a sustainability specialist with the U.S. Forest Service and earlier as a wildland firefighter for the National Park Service have equipped her to serve as a councilor addressing issues of importance to Sisters, such as managing growth while enhancing sustainability, and wildfire preparedness in Sisters Country.

Ross has previously served as an elected official in Springfield and has extensive experience with public budgeting, long-range planning, system development charges review, bonds, and expansion of facilities. In Sisters, he has served as a member of the City Park Advisory Board, the SOAR Foundation Board, and on the City Budget Committee.

Blum is beginning her sixth year as a city councilor and is the second-longest-serving member after Nancy Connolly, so she brings an historic perspective to the Council.

Preedin is in his third year on the Council and offered his thoughts on being mayor and on Sisters:

“I am thrilled to be mayor. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a long time and it’s a goal that has now been accomplished. I love Sisters and I’m happy to be serving my community. All I really want to do is continue the process that’s already been started, including the (Community) Vision and updating the Comprehensive Plan.

“I want to lead the City as best I can. Of course, I have a superbly competent Council to work with and I’m just one of five people who are discussing policies for the future of Sisters. We also obviously have a very good city staff and a great city manager to work with. Together, we’re all going to come up with hopefully the best plan to keep a growing Sisters livable, just as the Vision outlines.

“We also want to have fun and celebrate Sisters’ 75th anniversary this year. We’ll have more on that later.”