Longtime Fircrest councilman elected city’s new mayor

Fircrest has a new mayor.

In a 5-2 vote, Councilman Matthew Jolibois was appointed to the position on Tuesday by the council at its regular meeting.

The departure of longtime Mayor David Viafore, who was on the council 24 years, leaves Jolibois as the longest-serving member on the council. Jolibois has been on the council 14 years.

His appointment to the mayoral post is significant in that it is only the second time in 24 years that someone other than Viafore has held the position.

Kathy McVay was mayor from 2008 to 2010, ousting Viafore from the position and making history as the first woman to hold the title in the city.

Councilmen Denny Waltier and Hunter George were the two votes against Jolibois. They voted for newly elected Councilman Blake Surina, who has past experience as a Fircrest councilman.

George was appointed mayor pro tempore.

Fircrest’s mayor is chosen by its council every two years at the first meeting of the year. The mayor acts as the presiding officer at meetings.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Longtime Fircrest councilman elected city’s new mayor."