Bennett to Be Sworn In as Murrieta Mayor

UPDATE 7 p.m. Dec. 3:

Alan Long Appointed Mayor of Murrieta in Unexpected Twist

ORIGINAL POST 2 p.m. Dec. 3:

Kelly Bennett is slated to take over as the mayor of Murrieta.

Bennett, who spent the last year serving as mayor pro tem, will be sworn in during a ceremony scheduled as part of the Murrieta City Council meeting which begins at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall, One Town Square.

Prior to that, there will be a presentation honoring outgoing Mayor Rick Gibbs.

In 2006, Bennett, a family law attorney, became the first woman elected to Murrieta City Council. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2010.

Murrieta City Council operates on a mayoral rotation, in which each Council member serves a one-year term as mayor.

Councilman Alan Long is scheduled to be appointed mayor pro tem during tonight’s meeting, meaning that he will assume mayoral responsibilities in the event of Bennett’s absence. The mayor pro tem is also the next in line to serve as mayor.