By Darrell Kirby | [email protected]

Following their easy reelection victories in November, three members of the West Valley City Council have been sworn in to their new terms. 

On Jan. 7, City Recorder Nichole Camac administered the oath of office to Tom Huynh, Karen Lang, and Don Christensen during a city hall ceremony attended primarily by their families, fellow city council members, city officials and staff, and a visiting Taiwanese delegation. 

Huynh and Lang are now underway with their third four-year terms in their respective council districts, while Christensen has begun his second consecutive term as an at-large representative. He previously served on the governing body from 2009 to 2013 before an unsuccessful run for mayor. 

Each councilmember made brief remarks following their swearing in.

Huynh, who immigrated to the United States from Vietnam when he was 19, expressed his gratitude to the diverse constituents of his northeastern district as well as residents citywide. "From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the citizens of this city," Huynh said. "I will do my very best to represent them and to assure their voice will be heard." 

Huynh praised the cohesiveness of the city council and assistance of city staff. "This is a group of special people who assist me to become a good councilmember."

Lang thanked the residents of her northwestern-northcentral city district for their confidence in her. "It has been a privilege and time well spent to serve the citizens of West Valley." Like Huynh, she acknowledged the camaraderie of the city council. "We work well together and there's not that infighting that other groups have. I really think that we're all working for the best of the city," Lang said, adding that she "proudly" tells people outside the city that she is from West Valley. 

Christensen said he was "humbled" by his reelection. "I now know that I have the confidence of the voters in West Valley, and I promise to go on with that confidence and push us even further" in the city's progress and growth. Christensen gave credit to city staff for helping the council do its job effectively. "We wouldn't look as good as a council if it wasn't for all of the staff members," he said.

Mayor Ron Bigelow closed the ceremony by encouraging West Valley City residents to get involved in their municipal government by attending city council meetings when possible. He cautioned, however, against expecting the council to bow to the wishes of a just a handful of vocal constituents. "Sometimes it is contrary to the will of the majority of our citizens."