Pictured L-R: Valerie Woodall, Jarrett Stoltzfus, Mayor Celina Benitez, Luke Chesek and Danielle Carter
The City of Mount Rainier held a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, May 8th, to welcome its newly elected council members, Danielle Carter and Valerie Woodall. The ceremony took place at the MRPD Community Room during the Mayor and Council’s Special Legislative Meeting and was attended by members of the community, elected officials, members of the Mount Rainier Board of Elections and city staff.
The ceremony included the certification of election results by Mount Rainier Board of Elections Supervisor, Nichole Logan followed by the recitation of the oath of office of the newly elected council members before the County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Carter who ran unopposed in the May 1st City Elections will be serving Ward 1, while incumbent Valerie Woodall retained her seat in the City Council after winning 152 votes out of the 249 total votes for Ward 2. Carter and Woodall will be serving a four-year term and will join Mayor Celina Benitez, Councilmember Luke Chesek, and Councilmember Jarrett Stoltzfus in the City Council. Former Councilmember Jimmy Tarlau’s term ended on May 8th and did not seek reelection.
“The City has made a lot of progress over the years and we are looking forward to working collaboratively to continue this momentum and advance the interests of the City and our residents,” Mayor Benitez said.
Among the attendees were 47 District Representatives, Sen. Malcolm Augustine and Del. Julian Ivey, and Ethan Sweep from Cong. Glenn Ivey’s office. After the swearing-in ceremony, Sen. Augustine and Del. Ivey presented $750,000 in funding to support the Potts Hall/Welcome Center Project of the City.
The City of Mount Rainier congratulates the newly elected council members and wishes them all the best as they begin their terms of public service.