PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles City Council member Kate Dexter was unanimously voted to fill a third two-year term as mayor, and council member Navarra Carr was elected deputy mayor in a 5-2 vote on Tuesday.
Council member Brendan Meyer, who had served the past two years as deputy mayor, nominated himself for both positions but was unsuccessful.
“I would really think that I would be remiss not to put my hat in the ring this time around just for the sake of running uncontested,” Meyer said before the vote for mayor.
Dexter said, “I have really enjoyed being mayor for last four years and would welcome the opportunity to continue serving as mayor. I do think I’ve done a good job running efficient meetings. I spend a lot of time looking at the agenda and trying to be respectful of guests and other things like that.”
Meyer voted for himself — his only vote — and then voted a second time for Dexter to make the decision unanimous.
Carr served as deputy mayor from 2020-21, her first two years on the council.
“I felt like during that time, it was also when COVID started, and there was a lot of change and a lot of growth and a lot of learning, and I feel like in the two years since I was last deputy mayor, I have learned a lot, both in what it means to be a city council member and representative of this community and also about myself in how I show up for our community and how I lead,” she said.
Since then, Carr has served as the vice chair and chair of the county Board of Health, the chair of the city lodging tax advisory committee, and she said she’s also been a member of other executive boards in the area.
“I feel like that experience has given me more tools to be able to lead meetings efficiently and effectively, and with kindness and compassion,” she said.
Carr was sworn in to Position 6 earlier in the evening, while Meyer was sworn in to Position 7 and Amy Miller for Position 5.
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Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-417-3531 or by email at brian.mclean@peninsula dailynews.com.
