Concord Council Appoints Leone as New Mayor, Shinn as Vice Mayor

Ron Leone was selected Concord's new mayor by the City Council in Tuesday night's reorganization meeting.

The Council appointed Bill Shinn as vice mayor and councilman Dan Helix to chair the Redevelopment Agency for the year 2012, while councilman Tim Grayson will act as the agency's vice chair.

Mayor Leone will also lead as the chair of the Naval Weapons Station Reuse Plan and vice mayor Shinn will act as vice chair.

"Next year we will be facing some difficult challenges together as a council," said Leone after being named the 2012 mayor.

Balancing the city's budget while retaining quality of service and making the city "more business friendly" are key priorities, he said. Leone said completing the city's development code, working on the Naval Weapons Station and working with police to ensure public safety are all priority items.

"To the citizens of Concord, I do want to pledge to you that I will do my best and try to make Concord an even greater place than it is," he said. "... these may be difficult times, but I am willing to step up to the challenges and lead the city as your next mayor."

Outgoing mayor Hoffmeister

After thanking those who supported her through her latest term as mayor of Concord, Hoffmeister reflected on what she called a "tough year."

"We had to evaluate further cuts in essential city services and find ways to balance our budgets and we stepped up to the challenge in partnership with the community," she said. "We had some difficult challenges but we've been able to live within our means ... we were able to obtain the public's interest in having a half-cent sales tax that has made this year much more bearable." 

The four-time mayor of Concord will continue to serve the city as councilwoman.

"It's been a honor and a privilege to be able to have served you over this last year and to have worked with this great team and I look forward to working with mayor Leone and the rest of the team as we go forward."

Are you content with the council's choice of appointments? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.