Nice will serve second term as Mercer Island mayor

Mayor Salim Nice will serve a second consecutive two-year term after Mercer Island City Councilmembers unanimously voted him into the position again for 2024-25 at their Jan. 2 regular meeting.

Same goes for Deputy Mayor Dave Rosenbaum, who also received seven votes to retain his position for the next two years.

Councilmember Jake Jacobson nominated Nice for his position and councilmember Wendy Weiker nominated Rosenbaum for his spot. There were no other nominations during the elections.

Prior to the mayor and deputy mayor elections, Rosenbaum, Weiker, Jacobson and Craig Reynolds were sworn into their council positions after winning their seats in the Nov. 7 general election.

With Nice and Rosenbaum working in tandem at the city council’s helm once again, Weiker feels that people are looking Mercer Island’s way at what council and residents are willing to stand up for in trying times.

“With folks still recovering from the pandemic and all the recent divisiveness around antisemitism, (Dave) and Salim being the first council leadership to step forward and denounce all the violence and terrorism overseas in Israel and Ukraine, I think their dedication, empathy to providing safe and accessible and inclusive communities extends from Mercer Island out into the region and beyond,” said Weiker, adding that it’s a commendable action to take a stand for humanity.

Jacobson said that Nice has worked harmoniously and productively at ultra-high levels with everyone he’s interacted with during his council tenure, which includes councilmembers, the city manager and city staff.

“He has developed keen and deep knowledge of each of the challenges and issues relating to the governance of our city. When one views what the city and city council have achieved in the past two years, his fingerprints are conspicuously present,” Jacobson added.

Nice and Rosenbaum said that forthcoming milestones for the community to experience will be the opening of the Riot Games headquarters and EastLink along with the adoption of the comprehensive plan, the Town Center parking plan implementation and more.

“I’m honored and humbled to be re-elected as mayor, and I’m excited to continue working alongside Deputy Mayor Rosenbaum. Our love for Mercer Island fuels every decision we make, and with a strong and experienced council, we’re eager to tackle the next two years together,” said Nice, adding that all Islanders can flourish amid a partnership with the council and community. “The Island belongs to all of us, and we’ll be listening to Islanders’ feedback every step of the way.”

Rosenbaum deeply appreciates getting the nod from council to serve as deputy mayor again.

“I’m excited to work with my colleagues to continue to deliver a high level of service for our residents and keep building a strong foundation for the future,” said Rosenbaum, adding that he’s looking forward to banding together with council to pass the biennial budget, continue to focus on economic development and take steps with the community toward building a new city hall.

Mercer Island mayors preceding Nice, beginning in 1960, are: Harold Oliver, Tom Barto, John Day, Cleve Anschell, Peter McTavish, Ben Werner, Aubrey Davis, Beth Bland (Winn), Jim Horn, Fred Jarrett, Elliot Newman, Judy Clibborn, Gordy Edberg, Alan Merkle, Bryan Cairns, Jim Pearman, Bruce Bassett, Debbie Bertlin and Benson Wong.

Council resumed its in-person meetings on Jan. 2 in the Mercer Island Community and Events Center Slater Room.