New Grand Coulee leadership seated

Grand Coulee has a new mayor: Paul Townsend.

He replaces Chris Christopherson, who chose not to run for re-election in November.

Townsend ran unopposed, and has served as councilman and mayor pro tem.

He, along with Councilmember Gary Carriere, who had filed for Townsend's seat, both take on new duties. Councilmembers Tom Poplawski, David Tylor and Erin Nielsen, who had won re-election, were all sworn in Dec. 22, at the regular council meeting.

Carriere is a member of the Electric City Volunteer Fire Department and an ambulance emergency medical technician.

The newcomers to city government officially take on their duties Jan. 1, 2016.