How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council bid farewell to its mayor and held the swearing-in for its new members on Tuesday night, with the newly formed council composed of the first female majority in its history.
City Clerk Kelly Buendia presented the final results of the Nov. 5 election as part of the council reorganization.
“This is a very important event for the city of Lakeport,” said Buendia, noting it welcomes new leadership and marks a transition.
Councilmembers unanimously approved the election results before moving on to the formal changing of the guard.
Mayor Pro Tem Kim Costa led the honors for outgoing Mayor Michael Froio.
Froio, who has served one term on the council, narrowly missed being reelected in November.
Council members each offered Froio thanks for his work on the council, which followed a term on the Lakeport Planning Commission.
Councilman Brandon Disney, who ran unopposed for a two-year term, said Froio took the initiative to fix issues in the city.
Councilwoman Stacey Mattina thanked Froio for his years of service, noting she appreciated his time and effort.
Councilman Kenny Parlet noted Froio is all over town. “I’ve never seen a mayor who was so hands-on and involved in the community and showed that he really cared.”
Parlet said he was proud to have served with a guy who cared that much. “You just did a great job.”
He said that the year had been “a little shaky at the beginning,” but ended up being good, which Froio said was a reference to the way he ran meetings.
“I’m rough, and I’m admittedly rough,” Froio said, noting he had watched Mattina run meetings for years and no one was as smooth, effortless or as gracious.
“It was a good year. It was fun to be the mayor for a year,” Froio said.
City Manager Kevin Ingram, who had encouraged Froio to apply for the Lakeport Planning Commission, said it was a pleasure working with Froio for eight years. He said a lot of the projects Froio has been instrumental in putting in place will continue to come to fruition, such as beautification projects.
Outgoing District 4 Supervisor Michael Green, who served with Froio on the Planning Commission, said that while they didn’t agree on everything, he appreciated the way Froio could disagree in a gentlemanly way. He also credited Froio with doing good work in local government.
Brad Rasmussen, Lakeport’s retired police chief who will succeed Green as District 4 supervisor in January, also thanked Froio for his dedication to the city.
While they didn’t always agree on every issue, “He was always coming from a place where he cared about making the community better,” Rasmussen said of Froio.
Luca Moretti, field representative for Congressman Mike Thompson, presented Froio with a certificate of special congressional recognition for his work.
“Thank you for your commitment to public service,” and for making Lakeport a better place to live, said Moretti, adding that Froio’s work will impact people for years to come.
“You worked hard on behalf of the people,” whatever their need was, said Costa.
She also credited Froio with helping get resolution on the long-running issues with the dilapidated Vista Point property.
Froio also has been consistent in his concerns for the homeless population in Lake County, and he’s continued to look at establishing a low barrier navigation center. She added that she appreciated his encouragement when she was a new council member.
“Wow,” Froio said at the end of the accolades, offering his thanks. “I’m humbled.”
He acknowledged encouraging Costa to apply for an open seat. He said she “knocked it out of the park.”
Both Costa and Disney initially were appointed to the council two years ago, and he said both have jumped in and done the work.
Froio said Parlet and Mattina have been on the council a long time, anchoring it, and he told newly elected member Christina Price that they will be there to help her.
With that, he stepped down from the dais.
Buendia then administered the oath of office to Costa, Disney, Parlet and Price. Mattina temporarily stopped off the dais while the swearing-in took place.
During the council’s brief reorganization, Costa was elected mayor and Disney mayor pro tem, or vice mayor, for 2025.
Lakeport now has its first majority female council, a fact confirmed to Lake County News by Deputy City Clerk Hilary Britton.
This year, Clearlake also has a three-woman majority, but that council first had a female majority in 2012, continuing until 2016, according to Clearlake City Clerk Melissa Swanson.
During the remainder of the meeting, which ran just under an hour, the council’s other main item of business was the unanimous adoption of a resolution approving a memorandum of understanding between the county of Lake, city of Clearlake and city of Lakeport authorizing the formation of the Lake County Regional Housing Trust Fund.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
