TONY STRICKLAND was chosen as Huntington Beach’s new mayor on Tuesday night (Orange County Tribune photo by Huw Pickering).

By Huw Pickering/Orange County Tribune

Capping the political triumph of their “Save Huntington Beach” slate on Nov. 8, the four new members of the city council chose two of their own as mayor and mayor pro tem at their first meeting on Tuesday night.

Instead of the usual practice of filling those posts on seniority of service, the new council majority selected Tony Strickland as mayor and Gracey Van Der Mark as mayor pro tem.

Under the council policy – unless set aside by a majority vote – Dan Kalmick would have become the new mayor.

That came after all the new council members – Strickland, Van Der Mark and Pat Burns and Casey McKeon – were sworn in. Saying their farewells were Mayor Barbara Delgleize and Councilmembers Kim Carr, Erik Peterson and Mike Posey.

Together with City Attorney Michael Gates, the new council members campaigned with a conservative outlook that seeks to assert more autonomy on housing policies coming from Sacramento.

The next meeting of the council is scheduled for Dec. 20.