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Council selects Bob Riche as mayor and names Wendy Bucknam mayor pro tem amid objection from Cynthia Vasquez
Summary
The council voted to appoint Bob Riche as mayor for 2025 and Wendy Bucknam as mayor pro tem; Councilmember Cynthia Vasquez protested being bypassed for mayor pro tem and cast the sole no vote on that appointment.
On the final agenda item, the council voted on leadership for 2025. Mayor Trish Kelly nominated Mayor Pro Tem Bob Riche to serve as mayor; the nomination was seconded and ratified by council. For mayor pro tem, Councilmember Brian Goodell nominated Wendy Bucknam and Councilmember Cynthia Vasquez nominated herself. Vasquez used her remarks to question the process and to say she felt excluded: "We are all equals on this dais... Why am I being passed over?" she asked, asserting that the roles are traditionally rotated and that the decision called into question the council's integrity.
Councilmembers responded with explanations about changed traditions following the last election and differences in prior patterns; the nomination of Bucknam proceeded to a roll‑call vote. The appointment passed 4–1, with Vasquez recorded as the lone dissent. Mayor Kelly said the new terms will begin Jan. 1.
