The Mayor's Authority

The City of Dayton has a Mayor/Council form of government and the mayor serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the city.  The Mayor is elected by the people and is in charge of carrying out the policies set by the Council and seeing that local laws are enforced.  The Mayor is basically in charge of the day-to-day operation of the City, including the supervision of all appointed officials and employees.  In general, the Mayor also has the authority to enforce contracts; bring lawsuits, with Council approval; preside over Council meetings; call special meetings of the Council; preparation of the annual budget; report to the Council on the financial and other affairs and needs of the City ; perform as ceremonial head of the city; and, approve or disapprove all official bonds. The Mayor also appoints various officials for the city including the Clerk/Treasurer, Public Works Director and City Attorney.  The appointments for staff positions are as follows:

City Clerk/Treasurer: Trina Cole
Public Works Superintendent: Jim Costello
City Planner: Trina Cole

City Attorney: Kim Boggs

Emergency Services

Fire District 3:        Rick Turner, Chief

Columbia County Sheriff's Department: Sheriff Walt Hessler

City Library Services

Columbia County Rural Library District:  Director Janet Lyon

Municipal Court Services

Columbia County District Court: Scott Marinella, Judge

Building Inspection Services

Columbia Co. Planning Department: Jeremy Phinney, Building Official

Term of Office

The position of Mayor is an elective office for a term of four years. To be eligible for the position, one must be an electorate of the city which means you must be a registered voter and reside or live in the city. In order to be a registered voter you have to be eighteen years of age, United States citizen, and not have lost your civil rights.

The elective process begins by filing as a candidate in the Office of the Auditor, Columbia County the first week of June.  If needed, the primary election is held in August and general election in November.  The victor of the election takes office January of the subsequent year.

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Duties of the City Council

The Council is the legislative body of the City of Dayton. As such, the Council sets the policies/laws for the City through a formal process that includes authorization of ordinances and resolutions. These are the polices that are then executed by the Mayor.

Terms of Office

There are actually two different terms that apply to city council members. The Council-At-Large is a two year term. City elections are held every two years on the odd numbered year. This results in the Council-At-Large having to run at each election.

The other six positions have a four year term and there are positions up for election annually.  This allows some experienced members to continue while the new members gain their experience.

If there are more than two candidates for the same position there will be a primary election held in August. Since city council positions are "nonpartisan", meaning the candidates do not run as a democrat or republican (or other party), the candidates receiving the highest and second highest number of votes will advance to the general election. The general election is held in November and the victor usually office at the first regular meeting in January of the following year.

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The Mayor Pro-Tempore is required to annually appoints councilmembers to required Council committees. The function of each committee is to study and provide the City Council recommendations on various issues and projects as requested by the Mayor in open session.

Mayor                                                                          Term of Office

Craig George                                             Expires 12/31/2011

314 S. Second Street     

            (509) 382-2394     

          zebra7@q.com

 Councilmembers                                                       Term of Office

           Kathy Berg                                                  Expires 12/31/2011

           114 E. Richmond Avenue

           Dayton, WA 99328

           (509) 382-4525

           punky@hotmail.com

William B. Graham, Mayor Pro-tem        Expires 12/31/2009

521 E. Washington                                    Appointed 05/13/2008

Dayton, WA 99328

(509) 382-4168                                        

Micki Varney                                               Expires 12/31/2009

619 E. Patit Avenue                                                     

Dayton, WA 99328

(509) 382-1354

Shelly Franklin                                         Expires 12/31/2011

1024 S. Fourth Street

Dayton, WA 99328

            (509) 382-3184

Merle Jackson                                         Expires 12/31/2011         

402 S. 1^st Street

Dayton, WA 99328

(509) 382-2696

JACKSON2696@MSN.COM

            Leslie Sweetwood                                    Expires 12/31/2011

            403 W. Clay Street

            Dayton, WA 99328

            (509) 382-3059   

             Terry Herrin                                           Expires 12/31/2009

             604 N. 1st Street

             Dayton, WA 99328

Council Committee Assignments

Public Safety
Chairperson - Bill Graham
Member - Kathy Berg
Member - Micki Varney
 

Public Works
Chairperson – Kathy Berg
Member – Merle Jackson
Member – Terry Herrin
 

Finance
Chairperson – Merle Jackson
Member – Shelly Franklin
Member – Bill Graham
 

Parks/Public Grounds
Chairperson – Leslie Sweetwood
Member – Terry Herrin
Member – Micki Varney
 

Planning/Economic Development
Chairperson – Shelly Franklin
Member – Leslie Sweetwood
Member – Kathy Berg
 

Personnel
Chairperson – Terry Herrin
Member – Shelly Franklin
Member – Merle Jackson

Emergency Management

Chairperson - Micki Varney

Member - Leslie Sweetwood

Member - Bill Graham

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Appointments are usually made by the mayor and approved by the council. The Chairperson of each Board or Commission is elected by fellow appointed members of said Board or Commission. Removal from the Board or Commission normally takes an action of the council but sometimes the Mayor can remove a member. The Mayor also makes a number of appointments to the city staff. Some of the appointments require Council approval.
 

Boards

City Library Board
Terri Hessler, Chairman
Lynn Williams
Candy Jones

Dana Jackson

Maybelle Culbertson

Commissions