New Hancock City Council members take oath of office

HANCOCK -- In a special meeting of the Hancock City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 12, newly elected and re-elected members took the oath of office to serve on the Council for a four-year term, while the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem were appointed by the Council for one year.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Hancock City Clerk Karen Haischer swears in new City Council member Richard Freeman, right, elected in Ward II, and William Laitila, second from left, re-elected in Ward I. Laitila was also appointed Mayor, after serving this year as Mayor Pro Tem. At far left is Hancock City Manager Glenn Anderson. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photos © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu, Keweenaw Now photographer)

John Slivon, left, is sworn in as newly elected City Councilman from Hancock's Ward III. Also pictured are, from left, Councilman James Hainault, appointed Mayor Pro-Tem for one year, Councilman Ted Belej and City Manager Glenn Anderson. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Councilman and former Mayor Pro-Tem, William Laitila, Ward I, was re-elected to the Council for another four-year term after running unopposed. Council members also appointed Laitila Mayor for a one-year term. Councilman James Hainault was appointed Mayor Pro-Tem for this coming year.

William Laitila, re-elected to a second four-year term from Ward I, will also serve as Mayor of Hancock, appointed by the Council, for one year. Laitila served as Mayor Pro-Tem this past year. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Hancock City Councilman James Hainault rises to accept the appointment by the Council to the post of Mayor Pro-Tem for one year. At left is new Councilman John Slivon from Ward III.

Two new Council members who ran as write-in candidates were sworn in by Hancock City Clerk Karen Haischer. John Slivon, elected from Ward III with 76 votes, defeated two other write-in candidates, Roland Burgan and Jeffrey Didion.* Voters from Ward II elected Richard Freeman, a former City Council member. Receiving 111 votes, he defeated another write-in candidate, Allyson Jabusch. These two positions were vacant because of the recent resignations of former Mayor Barry Givens and Councilwoman Sarah Baratono. The write-in candidates registered for the Nov. 4 election by meeting the Oct. 24 deadline. City Council positions are non-partisan.

*Editor's Note: John Slivon's Oct. 28 campaign article for Keweenaw Now can be accessed by clicking here.