Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey, left, chats with city councilmen Dean Grafos, center, and Gary Schimmels before a City Council meeting Dec. 28, 2010. SR file photo.

The Spokane Valley City Council made a unanimous decision last night to re-elect Mayor Tom Towey to a second term. Towey was the only one nominated for the position, just as Deputy Mayor Gary Schimmels retained his position as the only nominee. At one point last year Towey told me that he thought someone else should have a chance to be Mayor, but more recently he said that the council members he had encouraged to consider being mayor were not interested and that he was willing to serve as mayor again if nominated.

Since Spokane Valley has a city manager form of government, the role of mayor is largely ceremonial but it is a role that Towey has seemed to enjoy. The council elects a mayor from within their ranks every two years.

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