Residents are invited to a reception and swearing-in ceremony for Kent’s new and re-elected City Council members at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 in the lobby of City Hall, 220 4^th Avenue.

Council members to be sworn in include newly elected Dana Ralph and Bill Boyce, and re–elected Council members Deborah Ranniger and Les Thomas.

Entering her first four-year term, Ralph joins the Council after serving on Kent’s Land Use and Planning Board and Arts Commission.  Boyce is also entering his first four-year term after serving 16 years on the Kent School District Board of Directors.

Both Ranniger and Thomas are entering their third terms.  Prior to joining the Council, Ranniger served on Kent’s Land Use and Planning Board and Drinking Driver Task Force.  She is currently Executive Director of Resource Development for Clover Park Technical College.  A retired gemologist and small business owner, Thomas served as a King County Councilman, as well as a State Representative in the Washington State Legislature.

Officiated by Mayor Suzette Cooke, the swearing-in ceremony will take place at the beginning of the regular scheduled meeting of the City Council at 7 p.m.