Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland swore in its new mayor, Sam Adams, on January first. And other new mayors across the state have been taking office over the past two weeks.

In Bend Wednesday night, city councilors selected a familiar hand to hold the mayor’s gavel. Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

It was a successful return to the city council for Kathie Eckman.

Eckman previously served on the board for 15 years – including a stint as mayor.

Elected for a return engagement in November, she was sworn in along with two other new city councilors.

Kathie Eckman: “I Kathie Eckman do hereby swear....”

And then, Eckman was chosen, by a vote of 4-to-3, to again hold the mayor’s gavel.

Despite a new mayor, and three new faces, the council meeting was mostly about looking backward.

In her final speech as a city councilor, Linda Johnson compared the city over the past five years to a gangly, awkward teenager.

The remaking of Bend’s government isn’t done. Newly-elected state Senator Chris Telfer stepped down -- leaving another seat to fill.