Coumbs Re-Appointed Mayor at First Centralia Council Meeting of Year

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A pair of new faces joined the Centralia City Council for the first time on Tuesday night, but the hierarchy remained relatively unchanged as councilors Lee Coumbs and Max Vogt were selected by their peers to retain their positions as mayor and mayor pro-tem, respectively.

At the beginning of the meeting, new councilors Cameron McGee and Rebecca Staebler were sworn into office alongside returning councilors Vogt and Susan Luond. McGee defeated incumbent Ron Greenwood in November’s general election while Staebler defeated incumbent John Elmore. Luond ran unopposed in the election after filling a seat vacated by former mayor Bonnie Canaday in August, while Vogt defeated challenger Colin Hamilton to retain his seat in city government.

Once the new city council was officially seated, the members voted on leadership positions. Councilor Peter Abbarno nominated Coumbs to return as mayor while Staebler nominated Vogt for the position. Coumbs previously assumed the role of mayor after his wife, Canaday, moved out of the district in July, and he was voted back into the position by a 5-2 vote.

Vogt was nominated for a return to his position as mayor pro-tem by councillor Joyce Barnes while Luond nominated Abbarno. The subsequent vote fell in favor of Vogt 4-0.

During a councilor reports session, Abbarno noted that efforts by the city to relocate and reorganize the winter severe weather shelter operated by Bethel Church to the fairgrounds seems to be paying dividends so far. He also expressed excitement for the ongoing plans to revamp Borst Avenue near Centralia High School in order to improve pedestrian safety. In a public briefing prior to the council meeting, SCJ Contractors noted that the project will likely be completed by October 2019 with construction scheduled to begin in March of that year.



Councilor Barnes used her time at the microphone to promise that progress would soon be made on refurbishing the Veterans Memorial Pearl Street Pool for public use.

Mayor Coumbs also spoke of recreation during his report but took the opportunity to look backwards instead of forward. He noted that more than 7,000 cars and 20,000 people visited Fort Borst Park in December during the annual drive through Christmas lights display. That event was powered by 22 host organizations from the community along with individual volunteers. The host organizations were each paid $200 for their services, but Coumbs noted that three of those organizations donated their stipends to the George Washington statue fund.

“It looks like we had a very good season,” said Coumbs, who noted that the event brought in about $20,000 to the city.

Coumbs also touted the success of the Lighted Tractor Parade, which lined the streets of downtown Centralia with holiday revelers before a post-parade fireworks show at Tiger Stadium across town. Coumbs noted that the parade was once again a hit, as was the newly added fireworks display, but he added that the logistics of moving the crowd across town all at one time will need to be addressed before next Christmas season.

“I will admit I made a stupid decision and had fireworks. I can tell you nothing was moving in Centralia for two hours,” laughed Coumbs. He promised that next year the fireworks will be launched from Seminary Hill so that the crowds can enjoy the spectacle from downtown immediately after the Lighted Tractor Parade.