The end of an era for two Homer City Council members Monday night was the beginning of a new adventure for a different pair as David Lewis and Catriona Reynolds sat their last meeting.
Lewis, who served on the council since 2008, and Reynolds, who served for the last three years, make way for Rachel Lord and Caroline Venuti, the victors of the Oct. 3 municipal election.
“David, you’ve been on council pretty much since I’ve lived in Homer, so I’ve never known a city council without you,” Lord said at the meeting. “And Catriona, I am so appreciative of the time and the work that you’ve put in. And both of you, I’ve always felt, are representing … people in Homer well and with love and with compassion and with intention that is honorable and just.”
Venuti, too, commended the work and commitment of her predecessors.
“I probably wouldn’t even have run if it hadn’t been for you two,” she said of Reynolds and Lewis. “Because I saw you enjoy the meetings. You had fun. … I could see you making a change for our town for a better.”
Certified election results show that Lord and Venuti sailed ahead of the other candidates, each earning 66 percent of the vote with Lord ahead at 1,070 votes and Venuti with 1,057. In third place was candidate Sarah Vance, with 428 votes, or 27 percent. Overall, the election saw a 37 percent voter turnout.
Both Lord and Venuti were sworn in as new city council members Monday.
Lewis and Reynolds were the subject of a failed recall election in June, which Reynolds spoke to in her closing council comments. They both thanked the other council members and city staff during their final remarks as council members.
“Nine years,” Lewis said. “A long time but a fun time and a short time, so thanks I guess to Bill Smith for talking me into this a while ago. Barb Howard and Francie (Roberts), thank you for taking me under your wing and showing me the ropes my first term.”
“Thank you to everyone who reached out to me with kindness and support during my time here as one of your council,” Reynolds said. “Thank you to everyone who took the time in the past three years to contact me or to come to me … to raise my awareness of an issue that was important and that they had knowledge about.”
Mayor Bryan Zak read out extensive lists of both of their accomplishments while serving the city.
“We’ve got Caroline and Rachel coming on board, who’ve got big shoes to fill,” Zak said. “But, you’ve got big feet.”
Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@homernews.com.
David Lewis, a former member of the Homer City Council, makes his final remarks during his last meeting as a council member Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 in Cowles Council Chambers in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
