The Chehalis City Council welcomed new Councilor Michael Barton along with selecting Councilor Katie McDougall to serve as the city’s new mayor pro tem during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 10.
Chehalis Municipal Court Judge Allen Unzelman swore Barton in to begin the meeting.
Barton was selected by the council out of a pool of five candidates to fill the vacant District 2 council seat during a special meeting last week.
The seat was left vacant following the death of former Chehalis Mayor Pro Tem Daryl Lund in December 2024.
Barton’s sister, Amber Barton, his wife, Abby Barton, and their four children — Justice, Nora, Nolan and June — were in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
“Now that you’re here, we’ll put you to work,” Chehalis Mayor Tony Ketchum said.
Barton then assumed most of Lund’s roles on the following council committee and board assignments: the 911 Dispatch Committee, the Chehalis Beautification Committee, the Chehalis Parks Subcommittee, the Council Growth Management Committee, the Council Parking Committee and Chehalis Fire Consolidation Subcommittee.
“For the Board of Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers, I’ll appoint Kate, as she was interested,” Ketchum said.
Following that, Ketchum asked for a nomination for mayor pro tem.
McDougall was the sole nominee, and her nomination was approved unanimously.
A U.S. Army veteran who served for eight years as a practical nursing specialist, Barton and his family have called Chehalis home for just over a year now.
