Mayor, council members sworn in

Spokane’s two newest City Council members are legally ready for the first meeting of 2008.

Councilman-elect Richard Rush and Councilman Michael Allen, who was appointed earlier this month to fill Mayor Mary Verner’s former seat, were sworn in to their positions at a ceremony Thursday evening at City Hall.

Allen’s appointment is immediate. Rush won’t join the council until Jan. 1.

Also sworn in to four-year terms Thursday were Spokane Mayor Mary Verner, Council President Joe Shogan and Council members Bob Apple and Steve Corker.

It was the second swearing-in ceremony in less than five weeks for Verner, Corker and Shogan because they were required to start early to replace people who had been appointed to the jobs.

“My first three weeks were absolutely exhilarating and fulfilling,” Verner said. “Now, I’m looking forward to the next four years.”

Thursday’s ceremony came with much less pomp than Verner’s first mayoral swearing-in, held at the Spokane Convention Center. Shogan and Corker’s first ceremony was at City Hall.

At Thursday’s gathering, Verner, Allen, Apple, Corker and Rush were sworn in by City Clerk Terri Pfister. Shogan chose Spokane County District Court Judge Vance Peterson to swear him in.