Samayoa's ‘new way' begins as Marysville mayor

After a single term as a city councilman, Ricky Samayoa has been elected to replace Bill Harris as Marysville's mayor.

Their contentious campaigns, which drew attention to failed police contract negotiations and two very different styles of government leadership, came to an end Tuesday with public safety employees and their families waving banners on B Street for Samayoa.

"Things are good," said Samayoa shortly before the midnight hour, and the numbers weighing strongly in his favor.

Samayoa will take office facing a $118,000 deficit and an exodus of car dealerships that have historically been good revenue generators for the city.

"I think what we need is going to be a different vision and point of view," he said after a few hours of celebrating.

"We're going to have to tackle some of these problems and be very aggressive," Samayoa said.

Aggressive activism had been a theme of Samayoa's campaign, in sharp contrast to Harris' more conservative approach to government.

Harris was elected to the Marysville City Council in 1998 and was elected mayor in 2004.

"Things are going to change pretty quickly," Samayoa said. "There's going to be a new way of doing things."

CONTACT Nancy Pasternack at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4781. Find her on Facebook at /ADnpasternack or on Twitter at @ADnpasternack.