BRUNSWICK — The Town Council will swear in two new members and choose its leadership during a Jan. 4 inauguration ceremony at Maine Street Station.

Suzan Wilson, representing District 3, and John Perreault, of District 4, will join the nine-member board for the first time. At-large Councilor Joanne King will be sworn in for her fifth term on the council.

King defeated Karen Klatt in November. Klatt, at the time the District 4 councilor, had hoped to win King’s at-large seat.

Wilson defeated outgoing chairwoman Hallie Daughtry during the November Election, while Perreault beat Jason Bergquist, a member of the Planning Board.

The School Board will swear in James Corey, of District 3. Corey ran unopposed. The board will also choose its leadership.

Unlike last year, the council’s selection of a chairman and vice chairman should be anti-climatic. King, who served as chairwoman for two years until surrendering the position to Daughtry in 2009, figures to be a front-runner to reclaim the seat.

In November, King was noncommittal when asked if she would pursue the position of chairwoman. Since then, several councilors have said they’ll support her nomination.

King’s return to the chair would also coincide with a power shift between two voting blocks on the council.

In the past, behind-the-scenes maneuvering for the council chair has stirred animosity.

King last year accused Councilor Ben Tucker and Daughtry of “shenanigans” and “playing politics” with Planning Board appointments. Her comments came shortly before announcing that she was relinquishing the chair to Daughtry.

King denied that her remarks were in response to losing the leadership position.

Also, on Monday, the council and School Board are expected to make their committee assignments. 

The ceremony will be held at the town’s meeting facility at 16 Station Ave.

Steve Mistler can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 123 or smistler@theforecaster.net

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