Newly seated Council names John Procter
mayor, Martin Hernandez vice mayor
December 05, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Newly elected Councilman John Procter was selected Mayor at Monday’s inaugural City Council meeting, a seat he had been denied seven years ago before he declined to run for a third term in 2008. He had served as Mayor in 2003 during his initial two-term Council service.
Martin Hernandez, although the top voter-getter when first elected in 2012 and overlooked twice for the largely ceremonial post, was chosen Vice Mayor at the December 1 meeting.
Procter earlier had taken the Oath of City Council Office with Jenny Crosswhite and Ginger Gherardi, who defeated two-term incumbents Ralph Fernandez and Bob Gonzales. Rick Cook, who served on the council from 1998 to 2006 when he was defeated in his bid for a third term but was elected again in 2010, declined to run for a second consecutive term.
City Clerk Judy Rice conducted the election of Mayor after declaring the seat vacated by Cook.
The nomination of Procter by Vice Mayor Jim Tovias seemed to catch other council members by surprise: “Don’t you want it?” Gherardi asked Tovias in an aside before she seconded his motion.
Procter was selected Mayor on a unanimous vote as was Hernandez, who was named Vice Mayor by the full panel after being nominated by Procter.
“I may be a little rusty at this, it has been 11 years,” said Procter as he took the middle seat and the gavel.
Procter also oversaw the presentation of the framed gavel to Cook, who served as Mayor 2013-2014.
“It is a great pleasure to present this to Rick... I worked with Rick for quite some time,” said Procter.
“One thing about Rick I always loved is what you see is what you get,” as demonstrated by what Procter described as “some pretty strong disagreements,” with his council colleague, after which, “We would get together and have a drink... Rick never held a grudge.”
Cook, Procter added, also kept a steady eye on city finances: “He would always say ‘how are we going to pay for it?’ “ when the council addressed expenditures.
Cook showed he was still thinking about finances when earlier in the meeting he wished the new council “the best, because they need it. They’re going to be surprised probably in January when they start to talk about negotiations and budgeting.”
