New council members sworn in at Tekoa

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Mar 30, 20160

The city of Tekoa has two new city council members, both sworn in March 21.

Longtime resident Carol Sturman joins the council for the second time after completing a previous stint five years ago. Alysa Heagy fills the second seat. A Tekoa resident of six months, she moved to town with her husband and children of elementary-school age.

The new members replace Debbie Groom and Richard Kelly.

At a special meeting March 7, the city council interviewed four candidates, including Fred Wagner and Pete Martin, Whitman County coroner.

In an executive session afterward, Sturman and Heagy were chosen.

“I think the council went for the two women, so it’s not so much of an old boy’s network and to have a younger person on the council,” said Mayor John Jaeger, who did not have a vote. “Most of the people on the council are more apt to have grandkids versus kids in the school. Pete would’ve been a great one, though.”

Jaeger himself was turned down when he first applied to get on the council. He was later appointed.

“It’s sometimes easier talking someone into it, rather than choosing among four people,” Jaeger said.

City council positions in Tekoa are at-large.

Groom, a six-year member, resigned in December after it was discovered she was ineligible to serve due to her husband Duane’s salary from the city as maintenance supervisor.

By state law, a spouse of a council member may not make more than $18,000 per year employed by the same municipality.

Richard Kelly, a two-year council member, formally resigned in February, citing a business venture in Spokane taking too much time away from Tekoa. Kelly also owns the Tekoa Market.