Ken Grassi is University Place's Mayor; Denise McCluskey is Mayor Pro Tem

The lone remaining member of the original University Place City Council is once again the city's mayor.

won the city's figurehead position Tuesday night. This is the second time the Tacoma flower shop owner has been voted as the ceremonial leader of the 17-year-old city.

Also, Councilwoman was voted to the Mayor Pro Tem position.

Councilman nominated himself for both positions - and even successfully lobby for he and McCluskey to state their qualifications for the job - but didn't gain enough support from his colleagues.

Also Monday night, newly elected City Council members and were sworn into office.

Here is the city's announcement:

At the January 3 Council Meeting veteran Councilmember and recent Mayor Pro Tem Ken Grassi was selected to serve as the City of University Place’s new Mayor for 2012-2013. Also that evening Councilmember Denise McCluskey was selected as the Mayor Pro Tem and the Honorable Judge Ernest Heller was on hand to administer the oaths of office to three newly elected Councilmembers: Kent Keel in Position 2, Chris Nye in Position 6, and Caroline Belleci in Position 7.

Every two years the Council elects Councilmembers to serve as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. Under its Council-Manager form of government, University Place’s City Council is like the Board of Directors of a corporation and the Mayor is the Chairman. The Mayor Pro Tem serves as the Mayor in the Mayor’s absence. Within this “business-like” form of government, the Council sets the City’s goals and directs the professional City Manager, who acts as the Chief Operating Officer in implementing the Council’s decisions.