A fresh face on GOTL council

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

October 06, 2008 11:08 pm

— GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — In his first official act as village mayor, David Nelson resigned — from council, that is.
Nelson took oath Monday night just before the regular council meeting, leaving the village one council person short — again.
Council appointed Nelson, a former councilman and mayoral candidate, to former councilwoman Connie Hupertz’s seat, and then council president pro tem Mike Baker resigned as president. Council then voted Nelson as president pro tem, dropping him into the mayor’s office immediately.
Nelson replaces former mayor Frances Cervas, who resigned due to family obligations. Cervas, a retired teacher, won her office over Nelson last year by just seven votes.. Nelson will serve as mayor until the 2009 election.
But Nelson’s rise to mayor left yet another hole in council, a hole Councilwoman Wilma Reppert was eager to fill with a young, fresh face.
“I think it is high time we let some of the young ones take these seats,” the notoriously opinionated Reppert said. “We have someone here who is young, educated and intelligent and I motion we appoint (Peter) P.J. Macchia.”
Macchia lost his bid for council in a tight race last year. He has applied for several of the empty council seats this year.
Council unanimously appointed Macchia, 28, to the empty chair and he immediately took his council seat and was appointed the chair of the land and buildings committee and sits on the safety, streets and parks committees.
Council also re-instated Baker as council president, a title Baker relinquished so Nelson could be quickly appointed mayor.