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WILLMAR — Willmar’s new mayor, Doug Reese, took his oath of office Monday, Jan. 9, during the Willmar City Council meeting, along with newly-elected city councilor Carl Shuldes and re-elected counselors Vicki Davis, Audrey Nelsen and Rick Fagerlie.
Before they took their oaths of office, Willmar City Clerk Judy Thompson presented each elected official with their certificate of election to office. Judge Stephen J. Wentzell administered the oaths of office.
Shuldes represents Willmar’s ward one, Davis represents the second ward, Fagerlie represents the third ward and Nelsen represents the fourth ward.
After receiving his certificate of election and taking the oath of office, Reese addressed the council and the city: “I sit here as your mayor, humbled and hopeful, honored to be the mayor of the city of Willmar, a city that has become home to my wife Marion and I for the last 50 years.
“I thank Mayor (Marv) Calvin for his dedication and service to our city, which was exemplified by the attention and time that he took to make this transition smooth,” he added.
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Reese thanked his wife and family for their support, as well as his election committee, noting, “Without their help, the task of the campaign would have been overwhelming.
“I grew up in a small town where my parents were business people and served their community in many ways,” Reese continued. “As parents, they lead by example. They instilled in me a clear set of values — faith, loyalty to family, friends and community, and the importance of hard work, education and integrity.”
He told the City Council, city administrator, department heads and city employees he looks forward to working with them all, “to continue to make the city of Willmar the best city it can possibly be.”
“To the young men and women of our city, you have the most at stake in the city’s future, just as the city’s future depends on you. Get involved and work with us,” Reese said. “By doing so, you will gain an understanding of how local government works and maybe someday you will sit at this table as a city council member or mayor to all citizens of Willmar.”
He told residents to take pride in what Willmar has and what it has accomplished and achieved. “What has been amazing and humbling of the experience over these last few months after the election is the tremendous hope and optimism that I have been feeling from the citizens of Willmar. It is that message of possibility that should get all of us up in the morning.”
During the biennial reorganization of the City Council, councilors Justin Ask and Rick Fagerlie were both nominated to be elected Mayor Pro Tempore. Ask won the secret ballot election with five votes to Fagerlie’s three.
Ask was nominated by Vicki Davis and Fagerlie by Tom Butterfield.
