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Today, November 27, 2006 was the beginning of a new era in Los Banos. What direction this will take us of course it is impossible to say, but it all started this morning at 08:00am when the newest members of our City Council as well as our City Clerk and treasurer were sworn into office.

There will be a OurLosBanos community discussion on this on the OurLosBanos.com community forums in the political section if you would like to state your views and ideas. Also please check out the replay on cable channel 96 or online. We have the direct replay linked on the Our Town Page.

Here are some photographs from the special swearing in event and city council meeting.

As we left the house today we saw a very bright rainbow. A new day dawns over Los Banos in more ways than one!

The empty seats - soon to be filled with new and incumbent city leaders.

City Attorney William A. Vaughn confers with Mayor Amabile just before the swearing in on 11-27-2006

A Last Call To Order
Mayor Amabile calls the special meeting of the Los Banos City Council to order on 11-27-2006 for the purpose of swearing in and seating the new mayor and council members

Mayor Pro Tem Mike McAdam a few minutes before relinquishing his seat to the next elected councilman.

Councilman Roger Pruitt a few moments before leaving office. My apologies for the dark picture this was the only one I had a chance to get of him before the changing of the guard.

City Clerk Lucy Mallonee in the foreground reporting the results of the election to the city council for certification.

Tommy Jones as councilman is on the left Mike McAdam is in the center and City Manager Steve Rath is on the right.

Mr. Villalta and Mr. Faria in the back awaiting their official introduction and swearing in.

Mike Villalta, Tom Faria, Tommy Jones, and Melinda Wall make their way toward the podium where City Clerk Lucy Mallonee waits to swear them in.

City Clerk Lucy Mallonee swears in the following people:
from left to right

Melinda Wall as Los Banos City Treasurer
Mike Villalta as Los Banos City Councilman
Tom Faria as Los Banos City Councilman
Tommy Jones as Mayor of Los Banos

City Clerk Lucy Mallonee swears in the following people:
from left to right

Melinda Wall as Los Banos City Treasurer
Mike Villalta as Los Banos City Councilman
Tom Faria as Los Banos City Councilman
Tommy Jones as Mayor of Los Banos

City Clerk Lucy Mallonee swears in the following people:
from left to right

Melinda Wall as Los Banos City Treasurer
Mike Villalta as Los Banos City Councilman
Tom Faria as Los Banos City Councilman
Tommy Jones as Mayor of Los Banos

City Clerk Lucy Mallonee swears in the following people:
from left to right

Melinda Wall as Los Banos City Treasurer
Mike Villalta as Los Banos City Councilman
Tom Faria as Los Banos City Councilman
Tommy Jones as Mayor of Los Banos

Lucy Mallonee congratulating Tom Faria and Tommy Jones after swearing them in

Mr. McAdam and Mr. Pruitt depart their seats

New candidates ascend to their new desks and the congratulations start

Former Mayor Michael Amabile, Former Councilman McAdam, and Former Councilman Pruitt watch as the new Mayor and Councilmen are seated.

Mike Villalta enjoys his new leather chair

Tom Faria with a serious look during his first minutes in office.

Mayor Tommy Jones begins his term as Mayor of Los Banos

The New Face of the Los Banos city Council

Janna Sousa Assistant City Clerk swears in City Clerk Lucy Mallonee as Ms. Brooks and Mr. Faria look on.

Mr. Amabile, Mr. McAdam, and Mr. Pruitt watch the proceeding.

After the swearing in things got a lot more serious as our city council decided how they were going to handle filling the empty City Council seat.

New Councilman Villalta considers what others are saying

Mr. Faria considering 'fifth seat' questions.

Tommy Jones as the new Mayor of Los Banos begins to consider the questions surrounding filling the fifth seat.

A poor photo of Ms. Brooks putting forth her opinions on the fifth seat.

Mr. Faria considering some of the options others have put forward for the fifth seat.

Now Former Mayor Michael Amabile addressed the city council

City Manager Steve Rath listens to Mr. Amabile

Hard questions addressed by new Councilman Villalta

Mr. Vaughn Los Banos City Attorney provides the new and incumbent council members with guidance on how to legally proceed with the selection and timing for filling the fifth seat.

City Clerk Lucy Mallonee kept track of the proceedings.

The Los Banos City Council

A sweet and somewhat touching unofficial ceremony.

It was not on the agenda, but another little ceremony happened as the assistant City Clerk presented the former mayor and council members their name plate plaques.

Assistant City Clerk Janna Sousa presents now Former Mayor Michael Amabile with the placard that was posted when he sat as mayor in the council chambers.

Assistant City Clerk Janna Sousa gives Mr. Mayor Michael Amabile the placard that was used when he sat as mayor in the council chambers.

The seal of the City of Los Banos in the City Council Chamber

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