With the new year comes new mayors and city council members for cities around the area.

City elections were held around the state in November.

In Kalona, former council member Mark Robe will be sworn in as mayor at the Jan. 6 council meeting, taking over for Ken Herington, who opted to not run for another term.

That will leave an open seat on the Kalona City Council.

At the Dec. 16 council meeting, City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said that the city has two options to fill the seat.

The city can appoint someone to serve out the remainder of Robe’s term, which expires at the end of 2021.

Schlabaugh said that the city will accept letters of interest from Kalona residents who may want to serve on the council.

However, residents could file a petition with enough signatures to override the appointment and call for a special election.

The council could forego the appointment and directly call for a special election at the city’s expense.

The city of Wellman will welcome three new City Council members.

Aaron Fleming, Angela Stutzman and Anthony Evans will all be sworn in at the Jan. 6 council meeting.

Council members Bob Goodrich, Bob Freeman and Tracy Owens all opted to not seek another term.

Riverside officials who won seats in the November election were sworn into office in late December.

Mayor Allen Schneider and council members Jeanine Redlinger and Edgar McGuire are all rejoining the council after being re-elected.

Former Highland school board member Lois Schneider will replace her husband, Robert Schneider, who ran for a Highland school board seat.

In Lone Tree, Joanne Havel will be sworn in as new mayor.

She replaces Jon Green, who did not seek re-election to the post.

Incumbents Ruby Dickey, Dave Wageman and Mitch Swinton will all rejoin the City Council.