Seven candidates applied for seat vacated by new mayor Jon Mutchler
By Brent Lindquist
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FERNDALE — Just an hour after accepting a commemorative plaque and coin for her services as a city council member, Cathy Watson was appointed back onto the Ferndale City Council.
Watson was one of seven hopefuls who threw their names into the running for the appointment to fill the seat vacated by new mayor Jon Mutchler.
Drew Paterson, Fred Kennedy, Manuel Reta, Matthew Durkee, Mick Jolly and Victor Boulos also applied.
“This is an impressive group of people, and I commend them for stepping forth,” Mutchler said.
Of the seven, Watson, Jolly and Boulos received nominations from council members Brent Goodrich, Carol Bersch and Teresa Taylor, respectively.
Watson previously worked at NASA as a meteorologist and aerospace engineer. Her term on the council ended in 2015. Jolly owns Karate Quest and Risk Solutions Unlimited, both of which are located in Ferndale. Boules is the operations manager for Starvin’ Sam’s and Keith Oil Company.
“I’m very committed to Ferndale, and I have been since I moved here,” Watson said in her presentation to the council.
Watson served as mayor pro tempore during her time on the city council, and she ran against Mutchler in the mayor’s race last year. She noted that while she lost the election, she garnered more than 48 percent of the vote.
Prior to the nominations, each candidate was given two minutes to speak to the council, which took a 20-minute executive session to discuss the appointment. Nominations were made following the executive session.
Taylor voted for Boulos and Bersch voted for Jolly. Rebecca Xczar, Goodrich, Greg Hansen and Keith Olson cast their votes for Watson.
Prior to the new candidate selection, Watson and fellow outgoing council member Mel Hansen, who was replaced by his son, Greg Hansen, were presented with commemorative plaques and Ferndale city centennial coins for their years of service. Outgoing councilor Paul Ingram was also honored, though he was not in attendance.
