With the confirmation of the November 5 election results, a former member of the Needles City Council was reinstalled on that panel amid a few other subtle personnel changes on city commissions.
The rollover of three members of the council and appointments to city commissions took place on December 10 at the El Garces public house.
Re-elected in November were Mayor Janet Jernigan and council members Tona Belt and Ellen Campbell. Zachery Longacre, who was on the council previously, from 2018 to 2022, was returned to the council by the city’s voters. All four were sworn in by interim City Clerk Candace Clark, who has taken on that role in the aftermath of the unexpected death in October of longtime City Clerk Dale Jones.
Councilwoman Kirsten Merritt was previously serving in the capacity of Mayor Pro Tem. She did not seek reelection. As a result, Longacre replaced her on December 10. The council, by a 5-to-1 votes elevated Campbell to mayor pro tem.
David Kearnes was appointed and Jon McNeil reappointed to the public utilities board. Kearnes was brought in to replace Steven Moffett.
Joe Payson was appointed to a full term on the planning commission expiring in 2028 and Owen Long was appointed to complete the term of Planning Commissioner Bob Rath, who is leaving midterm. Long will remain in place until the end of 2026. The council by a vote of 4-to-2, with Longbrake and Councilwoman JoAnn Pogue dissenting, previously rejected appointing former Chamber of Commerce Director Wayne Colburn to the position captured by Long.