Bastrop, Tx–Tuesday the Bastrop City Council acquired three freshman members and said goodbye to three veterans who collectively had 50 years of council service.
The senior member of the departing group, Mayor Pro Tem Willie DeLaRosa had been on the council since 1987, a tenure of 22 years. Next in seniority was Dock Jackson who served 20 years on the council. Terry Sanders, who said his council service had been “an absolute pleasure,” had been eight years in the post.
After the three new members had taken the oath of office and took their seats, Mayor Terry Orr observed that the present council now has a total of three years experience on the job. Orr , along with council members Julie Hart and Joe Beal, were elected in May 2008.
Local luminaries were on hand to swear in new council members Ken Kesselus, Bill Peterson and Kay G. McAnally. Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips did the honors for Kesselus. Bastrop County Court at Law Judge Benton Eskew administered the oath to Peterson, and Bastrop County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Bill Weddle swore in McAnally.
After some procedural uncertainty, the council elected Beal to be mayor pro tem. Beal declined to vote for himself, and Hart–nominated by McAnally–withdrew her name from consideration.
In brief farewell remarks, DeLaRosa praised the new council members, saying “all of them are capable” of serving the city well. He also lauded the leadership and experience of Bastrop City Manager Mike Talbot as “the best city manager” in his experience. “You’re in good hands,” he told the new council.
Sanders, Jackson and DeLaRosa were ineligible for re-election this year because of a term limits provision in the city’s home rule charter. Former mayor Tom Scott and council members Martha Harris and John Creamer were ineligible for re-election last year for the same reason.