It’s December, which means many government boards, councils and committees are in the process of choosing new leadership. For three East Bay communities where voters do not elect a mayor, residents will see different names and faces — some of them very familiar — in those positions for the next year.
Pleasant Hill
The Pleasant Hill City Council this week picked Vice Mayor Matt Rinn to lead the city anew for 2024.
During the City Council’s annual reorganization meeting Monday, Councilmember Sue Noack nominated Rinn to succeed Mayor Tim Flaherty, who supported the move. The nomination was approved unanimously, city officials said.
The City Council also unanimously voted to make Noack vice mayor.
This is Rinn’s second term as mayor of Pleasant Hill, having served in 2020.
The mayoral seat in Pleasant Hill changes each year, with the City Council voting for one of its five members to lead the city.
Concord
Concord’s next mayor will be Edi Birsan, after the current vice mayor was chosen by his colleagues to lead the city anew.
During the City Council meeting on Tuesday, outgoing Mayor Laura Hoffmeister turned over the gavel to Birsan, who will be on his second term as mayor, city officials said.
Councilmember Carlyn Obringer, also another familiar face, was picked to serve as vice mayor for the year ahead.
Birsan, Obringer, and Councilmembers Dominic Aliano and Laura Nakamura expressed their gratitude to Hoffmeister for her service as mayor, according to city officials.
Birsan was first elected to the City Council in November 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. He served as vice mayor in 2017 and 2023, and as mayor in 2018.
An active community leader, Birsan has served in many positions, from the Director of Community Services for Concord-Diablo Rotary to the President of the Friends of the Library.
Obringer, meanwhile, was first elected to the City Council in November 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. She served as vice mayor in 2018 and as mayor in 2019.
She previously served on Concord’s Design Review Board and the Planning Commission, which she chaired.
Danville
Councilmembers of Danville this week picked Vice Mayor Karen Stepper to lead the town, ushering her to a fifth term as mayor of Danville.
Stepper served as vice mayor this year and was first elected to the Town Council in 2002.
During its meeting on Tuesday, the council also picked Dave Fong to serve as vice mayor. Fong was first elected to the council in 2020. He previously served as a member of the Senior Advisory Commission.
The mayoral rotation in Danville is a one-year term that begins the first Tuesday in December. Every year, the mayor and vice mayor are appointed by and rotated among the councilmembers.