Federal Way City Council member Linda Kochmar was voted Jan. 5 to serve as the city’s last appointed mayor.

Under the city manager/city council form of government, Kochmar was elected to the position by her council peers. The seven council members voted unanimously at their regularly scheduled meeting to give Kochmar the mayor title. There were no other nominations.

This is the first time Kochmar will serve as mayor. She was elected by the public this past November to her fourth four-year term on the city council. But Kochmar has long pined for the mayor position. Many of her council peers who have served as many years as Kochmar have had the honor of serving as mayor.

“I waited so long for this, I thought I’d get hit by a car on the way over here,” Kochmar jokingly said Tuesday.

The council-elected mayor typically serves for a term of two years. The mayor chairs council meetings, is a liaison to the city manager, publicly represents the city and, like other council members, represents the city on local boards and regional commissions.

“It’s such a privilege to represent you this year,” Kochmar said. “It’s going to be a year of transition.”

Kochmar will serve for a term of approximately one year, as the public passed Proposition One this past fall. The measure will bring a publicly elected mayor/city council form of government, beginning late this year.

Voters will elect their first mayor in November. Kochmar will serve until that person takes office. She will then revert back to being a city council member for the remainder of her council term.

Helping Kochmar wade through this year’s transitions will be newly elected deputy mayor Dini Duclos. The vote was unanimous.

“I appreciate the honor,” Duclos said. “I’ll do my best to serve for the next 10 months.”

Duclos was elected to the city council in 2007. She has since emerged as a vocal member of the group.

The deputy mayor term is two years. Duclos will remain in this position when a mayor is elected, unless the city council votes otherwise.

Throughout this year, leading up to the November mayoral election, the city council will prepare the city for the change in government. The duties of the council, elected mayor and possibly chief administrative officer will be set, the elected mayor’s salary will be established, campaign contributions will be discussed, city departments will be distinguished and appointed staff positions will be identified, among other things.