BARBARA DELGLEIZE was sworn in Monday night as the new mayor of Huntington Beach (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano

Barbara Delgleize was chosen as the newest mayor of Huntington Beach Monday night at a special meeting of the city council. Mike Posey was elected to serve as mayor pro tem on an evening when outgoing council members were honored and new and re-elected city officials sworn in.

In front of a packed house at the council chambers, the oath of office was administered to:

• Delgleize as mayor
• Posey as mayor pro tem
• Jill Hardy, re-elected to the city council
• Lyn Semeta, elected to the city council
• Patrick Brendan, elected to the city council
• Alisa Cutchen, re-elected as city treasurer
• Robin Estanislau, elected as city clerk (she had been serving as an appointee).

Goodbyes were said by and to outgoing mayor Jim Katapodis and long-time council member Dave Sullivan.

OUTGOING MAYOR Jim Katapodis expressed his thanks to city council colleagues, city staff, friends and family (OC Tribune photo).

“I don’t think that as mayor, you get accomplishments, you do it as a team,” said Katapodis, who will be going to Sacramento to serve as a consultant to the state on law enforcement. “I was so blessed to have such a great city council. I can’t thank them enough.”

He cited the Breitling Air Show, the opening of the new Rodgers Senior Citizen Center and the Pacific City mixed-used development as standout events on his term as council member and mayor. The event most special to him, he said, was the opening of the 9/11 memorial on the city hall campus. “It warms my heart,” he said.

Delgleize told the new council and crowd, “I can’t tell you how excited I am to work with this city council, our outstanding city staff, and most importantly, city residents.”

A 43-year-resident of the city, the real estate professional vowed to work to “keep the cultural soul of Huntington Beach intact, honoring the past while embracing the future.” She vowed to build relationships and seek out “future imaginings” of the city. “The welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all,” she said.

She cited growth and its after-effects, traffic, water issues and sustainability as key issues she would seek to address. Delgleize commented on the coming founding of a Citizens Academy and expansion of the city’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) as opportunities for residents to learn and volunteer.

Delgleize also said she would focus on improvements for Central Park – located at Goldenwest Street and Talbert Avenue – as a priority.