Two sitting council members left the dais Tuesday, Nov. 22 making way for two newly-elected representatives on the dais.
Sworn into office after the Nov. 8 general election were new Councilmen Brian Wursten and Dave Ballweg who replaced outgoing Councilman Kraig Hafen and Councilwoman Cindi Delaney. Incumbent Councilman George Rapson kept the seat he won in 2011.
Al Litman won election to the mayor’s seat after having filled it by appointment for two and a half years when the previously elected mayor, Mark Wier resigned in 2014. Litman was elected to the council in 2011.
The years served have been jumbled since 2011 when Mesquite voters approved a ballot referendum changing the election cycles to coincide with federal and state elections. Wier, Litman, Rapson and Hafen were all elected that year and with the change received an extended 18 months onto their terms taking them to the five and a half year mark.
Councilman Geno Withelder was re-elected and Rich Green won election in 2013 and will also serve five and a half years until the 2018 election.
I see that our Mayor and City Council are now all old white guys. So much for mirroring your constituency. Maybe next time we can elect a woman and/or a Hispanic.
Dave,
Perhaps you should have run. Whose fault is it that no woman won? Whose fault is it that no young Hispanic male ran for office? It only cost 25 dollars to run for office in Mesquite. It’s a free country Dave. People make their selection from those who run. One young man did run, but put virtually nothing into his campaign in the way of effort or money. In two years you will have an opportunity to support anyone you like for three open council positions. Go for it Dave.