Tara Bomhoff was selected to serve the unexpired term on the Watonga City Council for Ward #2.
Interested residents submitted letters of interest to the city and from that the council selected Bomhoff. The opening came to be when Debbie McGee resigned from the council.
Mayor Ryan Bruner asked the applicants to give a brief summary of why they wished to serve on the council.
Bomhoff said she had been born and raised in Watonga and had left, then moved home 13 years ago. Her parents, she said, have lived here more than 50 years. She said she wanted to do anything she could to make the city better and she would listen to any citizen with suggestions or ideas.
Robert Sawyer, who had been a candidate for the seat against McGee, noted he had volunteered and was serving on the board of adjustments already and felt that his early application for the seat was discounted. “But I’m good with whatever you decide,” he added. Bruner told Sawyer how much he appreciated that the business owner had stepped up to serve the city.
Pauline WhiteTail-Daukei said she had been a resident of Watonga for more than 30 years and her family, back to her grandparents, had also lived here most of their lives. She noted her strong history of service, including raising money for various charities for sick children, sports teams and the museum. She said her priorities were God, her family and whatever she could do for her community.
Howard Hursh said he had read and was impressed by all the resumes, then went on to nominate Bomhoff. The board voted unanimously to seat her and she was promptly sworn in by city attorney Jared Harrison and took her spot for the remainder of the meeting.
Bomhoff is a former school employee and currently works at First State Bank. She is active in the Bikes and BBQ events that come to Watonga each of the past four years and has a child in the Watonga School system.
This is her first foray into politics. She serves Ward # 2.