Bainbridge Island has a new mayor: Anne Blair.

In the first meeting of the new year, Anne Blair was elected as the new mayor by a 4-3 vote by her fellow city council members.

Just after new council members Val Tollefson, Roger Townsend and Wayne Roth were sworn in, City Manager Doug Schulze led the process for electing a new mayor.

Councilwoman Sarah Blossom spoke first, and nominated Councilman Steve Bonkowski for another term.

Blossom’s motion was closely followed by Tollefson, who nominated Blair.

Those on the dais did take a brief moment to entertain postponing the election, when Townsend asked the council to consider waiting until after a city council retreat to pick a mayor.

“I don’t personally feel ready to make that decision,” Townsend said.

He explained that the council could instead elect an interim mayor until the staff retreat.

Without a second to Townsend’s motion, the postponement failed.

Anne Blair was then elected with a 4-3 vote by a show of hands.

Tollefson, Roth, Townsend and Blair voted to make Blair the new mayor.

Blossom, Bonkowski and Councilman David Ward voted for Bonkowski.

Under the council-manager form of government, the mayor is not involved in managing the day-to-day operations of city hall. The mayor presides over meetings of the council, and is recognized as the head of the city for ceremonial purposes.