They sipped coffee and munched pastries as newcomers Rick Solloway and James “Zeke” Przygocki, together with incumbent Commissioner Diane Hanson, placed their hands on a Bible and swore to serve Dewey to the best of their ability.

Solloway, 41, dressed in his customary suit and vest, barely had a chance to get comfortable in his new chair before he was swiftly and unanimously voted mayor. Przygocki made the nomination, and Commissioner Marc Appelbaum seconded. Hanson, elected to a second term, conceded her bid for mayor and gave her support to Solloway at the Saturday, Sept. 26 organizational meeting.

“I take very seriously the integrity of our council and our town governance,” said Solloway in a written statement. “We as council members should not only govern with the town’s best interest at heart, but also be the best stewards of the integrity and well-being of all council members.”

Solloway emerged from a crowded field to win the election by a relatively wide margin, clearing runner-up Hanson’s tally by 80 votes. Taking the helm, Solloway said he wouldn’t seek to extend the powers of the mayor, or aggressively apply existing powers.

“That’s not my style,” he said. “That will not be my leadership. You can say something quietly and strongly.”

Appelbaum said the town made the right choice with Solloway.

“Rick is a fresh face in terms of the commission,” he said, “and I absolutely and fully support him. I’ll stand by him any way I can.”

Council unanimously appointed Hanson as secretary. While her enthusiasm was subdued, she said she wasn’t crushed by her failed bid for mayor.

“Not really,” she said. “What made my bid for mayor public was CPD [Citizens to Preserve Dewey], not me.”

Hanson said she plans to spend more time on her business and personal life.

“I get my life back,” she said, smiling. “You know, have some fun.”