Everett City Council elects new president and completes organizational business

The Everett City Council on Jan. 6 elected a council president for 2025 by roll call and completed other organizational business, including appointing three members to notify the mayor and administering the oath of office.

The council opened nominations and Councilor Van Kampen nominated Councilor Martins for council president. A seconding councilor spoke in support. During a roll call vote the chamber recorded 11 votes for Councilor Martins and none for any other candidate; the council declared her elected. The newly elected president then took the oath of office administered at the dais and made brief remarks about transparency and public service.

Why it matters: The council’s president presides over meetings and often sets procedural priorities; the selection determines who will manage the agenda and chair sessions through the year.

During the oath, the person taking office repeated the formal oath language, including duties to discharge responsibilities under the city ordinances, state laws and the U.S. Constitution. The new president addressed the council and audience, saying public service is a calling and pledging to lead with transparency and fairness. The president also recognized family and community supporters during remarks following the oath.

Following the election and oath, the new council president appointed three council members to serve as messengers to notify the mayor of the council’s organization; the transcript records the names of the three designees as Elsie Gebuen, Pitentino, and de Perro (as announced at the meeting). The council then moved to adjourn.

No ordinances, resolutions or policy decisions beyond the organizational items were adopted at this meeting.

The vote on the presidency was conducted by roll call; the chamber reported 11 votes in favor and none opposed.