Five Chehalis city councilors who won their bids for re-election this past fall took their oaths of office during the first council meeting of the year Monday night.
John Six, Kate McDougall, Bob Spahr, Kevin Carns and Michael Barton were all sworn in to start the meeting. Councilors also voted unanimously to maintain Tony Ketchum as mayor and McDougall as mayor pro-tem.
Six and Barton won unopposed races for District 1 and District 2, respectively, in the Nov. 4, 2025, general election. McDougall defeated challenger Elijah White in the Position 1 at-large seat with 822 votes, or 58.46%, for McDougall and 582 votes, or 41.39%, for White.
Carns emerged victorious over challenger Jack-Allen Snodgrass in the Position 2 at-large seat. He earned 919 votes, or 66.84%, while Snodgrass tallied 455 votes, or 33.09%.
Spahr, who has served on the Chehalis City Council for over 30 years, defeated challenger Jessie Carver in the Position 3 at-large seat, with 838 votes, or 59.64%, for Spahr and 564 votes, or 40.14%, for Carver.
