Mayor and Vice Mayor named

By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula TimesCity native Ray Luna was selected Mayor and John Procter Vice Mayor at Monday’s City Council meeting, the second time that Luna has taken the city’s top job.The largely ceremonial post of Mayor is rotated each year with the Council making the selection. It was smooth sailing at the December 4 Council reorganization meeting, where City Clerk Josie Herrera first explained the selection procedure and then opened nominations for Mayor to replace Rick Cook, who lost his third bid for a Council seat.Procter nominated Luna, who has been serving as Vice Mayor, and without another Councilman singled out for the post nominations were quickly closed.Under the watchful eyes of family and friends, Luna was selected with a unanimous vote to serve as Mayor, the second time he has been selected for the post since he was first elected to the City Council in 2000.As his first official duty Luna, a retired City of Ventura firefighter, opened the selection process for Vice Mayor.“As your Mayor I am now opening nominations for Vice Mayor,” said Luna.“I would like to personally congratulate you for the fine work you have done,” Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre told Luna before he offered Procter’s name for the post of Vice Mayor.