A swearing-in ceremony to install Linda Ryno and Ken Lane for four-year terms on the Ceres City Council will be held on Friday, Dec. 6.
The special City Council meeting will also recognize Eric Ingwerson, who is stepping away from City Council service. Ingwerson was elected to the council in 2011 to fill the unexpired term of Chris Vierra who was elevated to mayor in January 2011 in the wake of the resignation of Anthony Cannella. Ingwerson leaves a long history of government service; he served on the Ceres Planning Commission from 1988 to 1994 and first served on the Ceres City Council from 1994 to 2003. He also served two non-consecutive terms as mayor, from 1998 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2003. Ingwerson served a term as a member of the Ceres Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2011.
The swearing-in ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Chris Vierra is also expected to appoint a vice mayor. Currently Lane is the appointed vice mayor. After the two councilmembers-elect take the oath of office, a reception with refreshments will take place in the Ceres Community Center. The public is invited to attend.
In the final results of the Nov. 5 election for the two open seats, Ryno collected 1,573 votes, or 37.15 percent. Lane retained his seat in a second place finish with 1,357 votes, or 32.05 percent. Hugo Molina, a member of the Ceres Planning Commission, fell short when he received 1,286 votes (30.37 percent).
Ryno, 59, a resident of Ceres since 1983, worked as the administrative secretary for the Ceres Planning Department for 29 years. During the campaign Ryno said her goals as a councilmember will be to increase the transparency in government, assure safety for all citizens and insure that the council and city staff is held accountable to citizen's requests for assistance with respect. Ryno said she wants to address issues of blight in Ceres, as well as lack of shopping and dining venues.
A Manteca High School graduate, Ryno is married to former police Ceres Police Sgt. Sam Ryno. They have two sons, Lucas, and Zachary and first grandchild, Logan.
Born and raised in Ceres, Lane, 53, served on the Ceres Planning Commission before he was elected to the Ceres City Council in 2005 and 2009. Lane, who is currently the vice mayor of Ceres, is an active member of the Ceres Lions Club. He is employed with MoCal Office Systems in Modesto.
His wife Yvette served on the Ceres School Board.