Bill Ecret is new Moses Lake mayor

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Councilman Bill Ecret was chosen as the city's new mayor in a four to three vote over now former mayor Jon Lane.

Council members Lane, Jason Avila and Dick Deane voted for Lane, while council members Ecret, Brent Reese, Karen Liebrecht and David Curnel voted for Ecret, who will serve in the position for a two year term.

A subsequent five to two vote favored Councilman Deane over fellow nominee Liebrecht for deputy mayor, also a two year term.

"I'd just like to thank Jon Lane for his service as mayor for the past two years," Ecret said. "I think he deserves a hand for all the work he's put in."

Prior to holding the votes, council approved the process for electing a mayor and deputy mayor.

"We haven't had an officially adopted procedure," Lane said at the outset of the meeting. "In keeping with the intent of the statutes on how to conduct the election process, we came up with this suggested procedure."

Each member of the council was permitted to nominate one person, with no second needed before city Finance Director Ron Cone closed nominations. Council members then wrote their choice of nominee and their own name on ballots, which were collected and read aloud by Cone.

A majority vote decided the mayoral winner and, following the decision, the same process was used to choose the deputy mayor.

City Manager Joe Gavinski explained the process was only valid for the 2012 election and would need to be reviewed by council. At that time they can make modifications and formally adopt the election process for all future council elections.

Near the end of Tuesday's meeting Councilman Reese read a letter to fellow council members expressing dissatisfaction with the election process and the titles themselves.

In the roughly seven years he's served in city government, Reese said council members have nearly always agreed weeks in advance of the election meeting who was going to step into the roles.

"No member of this council should ever have to be put in the position of being the swing vote for mayor and deputy mayor," he said. "It can create animosity, separation and even retaliation between council members. That's the last thing I want to see happen."

In the past, the title of mayor has changed some council members into thinking they were elevated above other council members, Reese said; adding he wasn't necessarily referring to the current council.

He pointed out the titles of mayor and deputy mayor are largely ceremonial and questioned whether the positions are a good fit for the city's form of government.

"Yes, the mayor does chair the council meetings, signs city documents, attends numerous meetings and ribbon cutting ceremonies, but despite all of that they are just a council member. The only thing that states the chair and vice chair of the council be titled mayor and deputy mayor is a state statute," Reese said. "Our city manager runs the city with direction from the entire city council. So in my opinion the title of mayor and deputy mayor are moot."

He suggested all council members should share the positions on a rotating basis every two years, with the titles bypassing anyone who doesn't wish to take them on. He also brought up the motives of anyone who would actively seek the positions.

"Let me ask you this, why do you want to be mayor and/or deputy mayor?" Reese said. "Is it for the prestige, is it for the money, is it for control? Or is it because you want to help do what's right for this city and its citizens. To be a team player. To assure that all council members are well informed and we are all on the same level playing field."

Moses Lake's municipal code dictates the mayor shall receive a stipend of $1,000 a month, the deputy mayor $600 per month and other council members $500 a month. All council members, including the mayor and deputy mayor, receive $30 for each scheduled meeting attended up to a maximum of 10 per month.