Susan Jones Tapped as Healdsburg Mayor for 2013

Healdsburg City Council did its annual rotation Monday for the Mayor's spot, unanimously handing the 2013 gavel to current Vice Mayor Susan Jones.

City Councilman Jim Wood was tapped for Vice Mayor next year.

Also, Council bid farewell to Councilman Steve Babb, who was elected in 2010 to fill the unexpired term of Mike McGuire after McGuire was elected to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

Babb, a retired Healdsburg fire captain, opted not to run for re-election.

"Steve stepped in and hit the ground running," said outgoing Mayor Gary Plass. "He was a tremendous asset from the start."

Plass said Babb had "the ability to talk to people and listen to people" and was "my go-to guy," he said. "I really appreciate that."

Wood told Babb: "It was an honor to serve with you," he said. "You showed your passion and your respect and concern for the city."

Also Monday, Plass and City Councilman who were both reelected last month to another four-year term, were sworn in by City Clerk Maria Curiel along with newly elected City Councilman Shaun McCaffery.

McCaffery assumed his seat on the dais for the first time Monday night, saying he was looking forward to serving the city.

and then successfully ran for City Council in November 2010.  In recent months, she has filled in as Interim Police Chief in Cotati and Calistoga while helping those towns make a transition to new leadership.

Jones, 56, has also been active in the Healdsburg community, serving as president of Healdsburg Sunrise Rotary and as a board member with the newly formed Green Dog Rescue Project.

In an earlier interview, Jones told the Press Democrat that her top priorities in office will be to strengthen the city's police force and to make sure streets are repaired.

To read the interview, click here.

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