Chico council members keep it gracious, elect Reynolds as mayor and Bennett vice mayor

By Ken Magri

Maybe it was the holiday season, but kindness and diplomacy were in full supply at Wednesday night’s (Dec. 4) city council meeting.

The twice-monthly meetings, usually held on Tuesdays, were held up for one additional night after the election results were officially certified.

This special meeting primarily focused on saying goodbye to outgoing council members Andrew Coolidge, Sean Morgan and Deepika Tandon and swearing in the three new members, Bryce Goldstein, Katie Hawley and Mike O’Brien along with re-elected incumbent Dale Bennett.

But comments from the public started the evening off. As fate might have it, the first speaker was Steven Hazel, a frequent commenter whose difficulty with putting his thoughts together tested Mayor Coolidge’s reputation for being short with citizens on the microphone. In addition to Hazel’s complaints about being frequently cut off in the past, he tried to express opinions on housing and election recalls, but had difficulty organizing his thoughts for three minutes.

“Can you give me at least one more minute?” he asked at the end of time.
“No, your time has expired,” was the mayor’s answer. As Hazel continued to talk off microphone, Coolidge added, “Please don’t make me escort you out again.”

Three long goodbyes

After a short public comments period, the packed council chamber heard Mayor Coolidge praise Deepika Tandon’s four years serving District 7. “She did this job with both honor and integrity like I’ve never seen done before,” said Coolidge. “She was always looking out for the people she represented, and that trait is just amazing.”

Tandon was also honored with a statement from U.S. Representative Doug La Malfa.

Tandon was equally gracious in saying goodbye and welcoming the new council members. “We need to celebrate together,” she said. “No matter how much we might lack agreement with each other, there is no reason to hold any sad feelings for anyone, because for a small community like Chico that is a big thing and that makes us special,” said Tandon.

Next up to the podium was Coolidge himself, who represented District 5. Coolidge served as a council member for four years, then as mayor for a pair of two-year terms.

New Chico Mayor Kasey Reynolds. Courtesy photo

Outgoing Councilmember Sean Morgan read aloud the long list of accomplishments during those eight years, praising Coolidge for his work with local businesses, the university, law enforcement and the homeless. Coolidge appeared sincerely moved as Morgan continued, perhaps relieved that he completed his service on the council, or perhaps looking forward to a possible run for a higher office in the future.

The mayor then took the mike and praised his fellow council members, still sitting up on the dais, including Chico’s lone dissenter, progressive Addison Winslow. “Addison, I can say this. It is great to have someone on the council who you don’t agree with, but yet can have a friendship with, and I can’t tell you how important that is to the incoming council members,” said Coolidge. “The bitterness has to end,” he said, suggesting that the previous 6-1 conservative majority council may not have been the friendliest group of colleagues.

Councilmember Sean Morgan served on the council for 12 years, which included terms as a vice mayor and mayor. He was praised as a feisty and passionate fighter for his issues by several speakers, including Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher who called Morgan’s tenure “exemplary.”

In an awkward moment, Gallagher said that he had prepared state resolutions to recognize the achievements of all three departing council members, yet blamed the state bureaucracy for not having anything printed out. “But they will be coming,” he added.

After two more speakers praised Morgan, he kept his own comments brief, saying he was proud of his accomplishments and praising his replacement Mike O’Brien. Morgan ended by telling his political detractors, “You were never even close. You made me better though, and I thank you for that.”

The next council members and electing a mayor

Bennett, Goldstein, Hawley and O’Brien were then sworn in by city clerk Debbie Presson. One humorous moment came when Presson, while swearing in Katie Hawley, couldn’t remember the exact words to the oath halfway through it, saying after a moment of silence, “I forgot.”

Hawley repeated “I forgot,” which made the whole chamber laugh and added to the evening’s warm atmosphere.

For his part, Mike O’Brien took his oath and then walked back to his seat in the audience. O’Brien had to be reminded that he should instead be on the dais. “Hey, Mike, you’re supposed to be up here,” said Councilmember Van Overbeek, while Councilmember Winslow showed him where the hand-sanitizer was.

New Chico Vice Mayor Dale Bennett. Courtesy photo

But the most important agenda item was, of course, the election of a new mayor and vice mayor for two years, which the council members do themselves according to the city charter. Kasey Reynolds was the first to be nominated and therefore the first to be voted on. She was quickly elected by a 4-3 margin, but with the vote of progressive Katie Hawley and without Overbeek’s support.

“As mayor I will use my many years of life, business and intrapersonal experiences to cultivate an atmosphere where we are able to accomplish great things for all the citizens of Chico,” Reynolds told the News & Review. “My immediate priorities will be to foster unity, focus on quality-of-life issues, getting to know the new council members, all while running efficient and effective meetings.” 

“I believe we need to keep our community informed and up to date on the workings of the city,” said the new mayor, “while also listening to the concerns of our constituents.  There is much more to come soon!”

Dale Bennett, who survived another very close District 3 race against Monica McDaniel, was elected vice mayor by an expected 4-3 split between the majority conservatives and the minority progressives.

It appears that future votes will still go the conservatives’ way with their 4-3 margin against the progressives. But for this term Councilmember Winslow has a pair of allies to help get more progressive ideas recognized as legitimate agenda items.

After the election of mayor and vice mayor, Mayor Reynolds closed out the meeting until Tuesday December 17th, when the new city council addresses both ongoing and new agenda items for the first time.

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