Kevin McKeehan and Kate Rousmaniere have officially moved up the ranks in Oxford's City Council. The seven members of Oxford's City Council elected McKeehan and Rousmaniere as mayor and vice-mayor.
Richard Keebler, who just ended his four-year service as Oxford's mayor, was among the council members who voted to instate McKeehan and Rousmaniere on Nov. 25.
"Kevin had been very involved in the community before he got on council," Keebler said. "He knows the city well, and I think he will do a good job."
McKeehan has considerable experience. Over the past four years, he has served on Oxford's Housing Advisor Commission and worked on issues like economic development. Now McKeehan is taking on a new role as Oxford's mayor.
"In the back of my mind, I have always wanted to be mayor," McKeehan said. "I am always looking for ways to help the city."
With two years of city council experience under her belt, Rousmaniere said she is ready to take on her duties as vice-mayor and continue her previous council work.
"Throughout my whole career, I've worked to be engaged with the city," said Rousmaniere. "[Being vice-mayor] Gives me a better opportunity to intensify my engagement and work with the city."
Among their other goals for the city, McKeehan and Rousmaniere said they wish to strengthen the bond between Oxford and Miami University. Both agreed the relationship between the city and the university is fairly strong, yet the duo is pushing to move the relationship from good to great.
"I want to help Miami as much as anyone else," McKeehan said. "We are always looking for new ways to work with Miami."
The city and university's recent collaboration dealing with bike and pedestrian paths is one of the many projects Rousmaniere hopes will strengthen the relationship.
Despite their new titles, McKeehan and Rousmaniere will still be working closely with their previous commissions and the rest of the city council members, including Keebler. Now a member of the city council planning commission board, Keebler said he expects another great year to come.
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"[The city council] has worked so well together as a diverse group, particularly these last two years," Keebler said. "Almost every vote on council has been unanimous. My hope is that this will continue, and I believe under Kevin it will."
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