Newly elected Durango City officials took their oaths of office Tuesday in City Hall.

Councilors Sweetie Marbury and Dick White said emotional farewells to former mayor Christina Rinderle and Councilor Keith Brant.

While the councilors don’t all vote the same, they are friends, Marbury said.

“We have always been able to disagree without being disagreeable,” White said.

The two also welcomed councilors Melissa Youssef and Chris Bettin, who were sworn in and took their seats for the first time after winning the election on April 4.

“I look forward to the newbies, as we call them, because they will represent Durango well,” Marbury said.

Councilor Dean Brookie was re-elected to fill the fifth seat, but he was not present during the meeting.

White was elected by the council to serve as mayor and Marbury was elected as mayor pro tem.

The mayor has one vote like the other members of the council. But the person who holds the mayor’s seat also runs city meetings and represents the city at many public events. The mayor pro tem fills in for the mayor when necessary.

The council selected the mayor and mayor pro tem based on who received the most votes in the election two years prior. In this case, it was based on the 2015 election.

“That’s the way they have historically picked,” City Clerk Amy Phillips said. But it is not required by city law, she said.

The council also approved a mixed-use project on Escalante Drive that will house retail, meeting and restaurant spaces, as well as condos.

mshinn@durangoherald.com