HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif— City of Huntington Beach appointed a new mayor and mayor pro tem during its Dec. 7 council meeting.
Barbara Delgleize, who was serving as the city’s mayor pro tem, was appointed as mayor due to current Mayor Kim Carr’s finishing up her one-year term. This appointment will be Delgleize’s second mayoral term, as she first served in this position from 2016 to 2017.
“We can all agree that 2021 was a challenging year, not just in Huntington Beach but across the nation,” Delgleize said. “I’m optimistic about our future here in Huntington Beach. I want to make my term as your mayor focused on our city, not just in 2022, but what we can collectively do to enhance Huntington Beach, 5 or 10 years from now.”
Delgleize said she plans to launch new youth programs, reinvest in the city with its $10 million budget surplus, and support businesses and resorts by bringing tourism back to the city.
Delgleize became mayor pro tem on June 1 after Tito Ortiz, who originally held the position, resigned due to what he said to be political and personal attacks on both him and his family.
Along with Delgleize’s mayoral appointment Dec. 7, councilman Mike Posey became mayor pro tem, following Resolution 6320, which states that the most senior member of the council should be appointed if he or she has not served as mayor within the last four years.
However, Delgleize, who served as mayor in 2017, was able to become mayor pro tem in June since the city council set aside the resolution to allow potential future candidates to gain more experience.
Posey voiced support for the new mayor, describing her as “one of the most active cheerleaders for the city” who will be “everywhere and where she can’t be.”
“[Delgleize and I have] been on the same side of so many votes for so long. I think that we certainly think a lot alike, and I know that we’re going to work great together,” Posey said.
Expecting his mayoral term coming up next year, Posey said 2022 “in some way [is] a better year for me to serve the city on the city council than 2021 was.”
Pezou : Huntington Beach Appoints New Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem