ROCKLAND, Maine ― Members of the Rockland City Council welcomed a newly elected councilor and selected a new mayor to preside over the council for the next year.
“I will try to serve with integrity, efficiency and brevity,” Westkaemper said after being handed the gavel as mayor at Monday night’s meeting.
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The role of mayor in Rockland’s governmental structure is limited. The mayor is tasked with running the council’s meetings, as well as nominating members to municipal boards and commissions.
Councilor Valli Geiger held the role for the past year, but did not seek re-election to the post. She will continue to serve on the council.
Westkaemper said her career in the arts, where she sat on many boards, will help her serve effectively as mayor. Prior to moving to Rockland, Westkaemper served as a city councilor in northern Texas, where she lived at the time.
Newly-elected city Councilor Benjamin Dorr also was officially seated on the council at Monday night’s meeting. Dorr beat out two other candidates at the polls earlier this month to fill the seat previously held by Councilor Adam Ackor, who did not seek re-election.