City Council selects new mayor

Forming a foundation that would use fundraising to maintain the arts and address city issues, such as homelessness, was among the goals incoming Mayor Don Hansen proposed for his mayoral term.

Hansen, voted by the Huntington Beach City Council on Monday to serve as mayor for the next year, took the reins from former Mayor Joe Carchio, now a councilman, in a packed ceremony that was standing-room only.

Councilman Devin Dwyer was appointed as the mayor pro tem.

The largely ceremonial positions are rotated among council members each year.

Before handing his title over, Carchio counted the city’s achievements and challenges in the last year.

He said he appreciated the cooperation received by all of the city employees and that they made his “year as mayor easier.”

“They saw the challenge, they accepted the challenge, and they made the concessions we needed to help us balance our budget,” Carchio said.

Hansen pledged to help make Huntington Beach the crown jewel in the county, if not the state. He said it’s time for Huntington Beach, the fourth largest city in the county, to lead the region.

Hansen’s other goals included economic growth infrastructure repairs. He asked the council, staff and residents to help achieve them.

His said his proposals, such as forming an ad hoc committee for the Pacific City project, would prepare Huntington Beach to take off as the economy recovers and as the project comes to fruition.

Hansen

said the work he’s setting out to do is not just for him or his generation, but for his children and their generation.

“When I look at the three of you and all the potential and all the optimism that you share, each in your own unique way, the answer is clear,” he said. “The work I do in this chamber is mainly for you.”

mona.shadia@latimes.com

Twitter: @MonaShadia