Sebastopol council poised to choose new mayor

Two new council members will be seated and a mayor and vice mayor elected during the Sebastopol City Council meeting on Tuesday.

If tradition is followed, the council will select Vice Mayor Guy Wilson as mayor, succeeding Mayor Sarah Gurney.

In Sebastopol, the vice mayor usually becomes mayor, although this year Linda Kelley, who was vice mayor, declined the nomination and the council voted to let Gurney serve a second consecutive term as mayor.

Of the incumbent council members, only Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer has not served as vice mayor or mayor.

"I would hope that the city can follow the tradition and pass it along," Shaffer said. "I hope every council member will have chance to be mayor or vice mayor."

The new members of the council are Patrick Slayter, an architect, and Michael Kyes, a solar energy consultant.

They were elected to succeed Kelley and Councilman Larry Robinson, who did not seek re-election.

- Bob Norberg