Recently re-elected councilman becomes Richland’s new mayor
A Richland business owner is stepping into the top spot in city government.
Michael Alvarez was picked as the city’s mayor with four votes. Richland picks its mayor from the seven member city council. He replaces Ryan Lukson, who was elected in 2020.
“It’s an honor and a privilege being the mayor of the city,” Alvarez said. “I will do the best that I can to my ability.”
Alvarez voted for himself and was joined by Terry Christensen and newly-elected councilwomen Jhoanna Jones and Theresa Richardson.
The council selects one of its members to serve in the largely honorary position every two years. The position comes with a $250 on top of the $1,231 monthly salary the council members are paid.
Along with making public appearances, the mayor leads city council meetings. Councilman Ryan Lukson was in the spot since 2020.
Lukson was nominated for a second term by Councilman Phil Lemley, but only received two votes.
Councilman Terry Christensen was picked to be mayor pro tem. The veteran councilman has held the spot previously when Bob Thompson was mayor.
Alvarez, the owner of a mortgage company, was elected to the city council in 2017, and recently won re-election with 71% of the vote.
On his campaign website, he said the city will be facing a difficult financial future because of pressures from COVID-19 in his campaign materials. He promised to continuing fostering strong relationships with the city’s business community.
Alvarez has owned a mortgage company for 25 years and is also a licensed real estate instructor and faculty member for the Washington Association of Realtors.
Alvarez was one of two councilmen who was elected in the wake of the city’s approval of a $20 car tab fee aimed at helping to pay for the Duportail Bridge and street repairs.
The new mayor said he felt blessed to be at the Tuesday council meeting after recently having to go to the hospital with a ruptured appendix.
He joined the council at the same time as Lukson and complimented the outgoing mayor for his service. The former mayor’s two-year term was largely shaped by navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Four years ago, who would have thought we would have been in these places,” Alvarez said during Tuesday’s meeting. “You set the bar my friend as mayor for me to follow. .... You’ve done an amazing job during this pandemic.”
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 12:58 PM.