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NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS • Blair Painter, right, Nephi City Recorder swears in the new city council members elected at the November elections. They are, left to right, Wade Gee, Lisa Brough and Justin Seely.

By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent


The swearing-in ceremony of three city council members on Tuesday in Nephi was an historical moment because there has never been a female council member in the history of the city.
Lisa Brough, Wade Gee and Justin Seely took the oath of office administered by Blair Painter, city recorder, in a special ceremony held at 7 p.m. prior to the city council meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Brough and Gee are both new to the council. Seely is serving his second term on the council.
In the last 30 years, a few women have tried for the office but all have been defeated in the November election until this year when Lisa Brough won a place on the council as the high-vote recipient of the election.
"When Blair Painter swears in the three city council members who recently won council seats," said Mark Jones, mayor, "Nephi will have its first lady city council member."
As far as the city council had been able to determine,said Jones, the city had not had a female sit on the council since the city was incorporated in 1889, and in 1882 became the county seat of Juab County. The city was founded in 1851.
Painter said that, by law, the council members elected in November were to be sworn into office on the first Monday in January or as soon afterward as is practical.
"The oath of office is both symbolic and binding," said Painter.
Council members were those elected by the people to serve the community, said Jones. It was the citizens of the city who had the final word on who would serve.
He said, that as he looked around the room he could tell, by the number of supporters present, that each council member was receiving a great deal of back up from family and friends. He knew that group of supporters would continue to offer the assistance needed.
"Maybe you would not have that in a larger community," he said.
However, in a small city like Nephi, the extended family would continue to be supportive.
He also realized that each of those sitting on the council would be making decisions based on the background each council member had.
"They all come from good stock," he said.
That was a good thing because each council member had the necessary skills and knowledge to help them succeed.
The two council members who had not been reelected, Robert Painter and Brent Bowles, had served valiantly and well, said Jones.
Jones said that Don Ball, a resident who often attends council meetings once asked: "Do you guys ever disagree?"
They do have discussions but, at the end of the day, they all go home as friends, said Jones.
The council meets on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, Jones said, by way of a joke about the length of some of the executive sessions held following council meetings.
"We are making history tonight," Jones said. "Of course, anything that happens today is history tomorrow, but the council is welcoming its first female council member tonight."