By Mark Carlisle

Independent Newsmedia

Councilwoman Lauren Tolmachoff of the Cholla District is Glendale’s new vice mayor.

Ms. Tolmachoff was selected to the position by Glendale’s City Council during a Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 9. She succeeds Ian Hugh, who will remain on Council, serving the Cactus District.

“I’m honored to serve as vice mayor for the city of Glendale,” Ms. Tolmachoff said via a press release. “I am committed to continue moving the city forward to improve the lives of the residents and businesses that I serve.”

As vice mayor, Ms. Tolmachoff is now responsible for performing the duties of the mayor should the mayor be absent for an event. She also serves as the chair of Council meetings when the mayor can’t attend or needs to step out momentarily.

Lauren Tolmachoff

Council selects a vice mayor every January. Mr. Hugh had served in the position for the past three years, but said he felt like it was time for a change.

“Nobody should do it forever,” he said. “…She’ll do a great job. She’ll put in the extra time that’s going to be required, she’ll support the mayor when he needs that, she communicates well with the entire Council.”

Mr. Hugh nominated Ms. Tolmachoff for the position in the Jan. 9 meeting and Councilwoman Joyce Clark of the Yucca District quickly seconded. The nomination received a unanimous vote, with several councilmembers including words of praise and congratulations for Ms. Tolmachoff.

Mayor Jerry Weiers also included some words of thanks for the outgoing vice mayor.

“Since I’ve been here five years, we’ve bonded rather quickly,” he said. “I think it was (since) the very night of our swearing in the first time. He’s that guy, he doesn’t get overly excited, he’s real calm, easy-going and he really thinks things out, and I’ve always enjoyed that, I’ve always enjoyed your friendship.”

Mr. Hugh spoke highly of Ms. Tolmachoff. He said he called her the morning after her appointment.

“Called her by vice mayor, said, ‘Just wanted to do that,’” he said.

Ms. Tolmachoff was elected to City Council in November 2014 and is up for re-election in the fall.

She serves on the Glendale Council Business Subcommittee, the National League of Cities’ Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, and last month was appointed as the vice chair of theNational League of Cities’ First Tier Suburbs Committee. She also serves as Glendale’s representative on the Board of Directors for the Valley Metro RegionalPublic Transportation Authority as vice chair and Valley Metro Rail.

Ian Hugh

Mr. Hugh said that the change in his role will mean slightly fewer public appearances, though, like other councilmembers, he will still attend community events, focusing mainly on his Cactus District.

“It’ll free up some time, certainly,” he said.

Aside from that, Mr. Hugh said the change in role won’t affect his day-to-day activities much.

“We’re all at the same meetings; we all have one vote,” he said.

The upcoming primary will be held Aug. 28 and the general election will be Nov. 6. If a candidate for city council receives a majority of the vote in her or his primary election, that candidate is elected to the seat. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will be placed on the ballot for the general. Ms. Tolmachoff received 41 percent of the primary vote in 2014 and 57 percent of the general election vote, defeating her opponent, Gary Deardorff.

Ms. Tolmachoff has also been a realtor since 2004 after a career in banking. She is a member of the Women’s Council of Realtors and a former president of the Glendale Rotary Club.

As of mid-November, 2017, no challengers had picked up a candidate packet for the Cholla District, according to the city clerk’s office. The packets became available late in late September, 2017.

Councilmen Jamie Aldama and Bart Turner, of the Ocotillo and Barrel districts, respectively, are also up for re-election this fall.

Mark Carlisle can be reached at 623-876-2518 or mcarlisle@newszap.com.