Highline cities elected mayors this week as city councils held their first regular meetings of the new year.

Councilwoman Joan McGilton was elected by a unanimous vote of her fellow city council members to a second two-year term as mayor of Burien.

The action was the first item of business at the lawmakers' first meeting of the year on Jan. 7.

McGilton, who is serving her second four-year term on the council, also served as mayor in 2006-07.

Councilwoman Rose Clark was elected to a second consecutive term as deputy mayor by a 5-2 vote.

Her opponent was Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak, who was nominated by Councilwoman Sally Nelson.

In SeaTac, Ralph Shape and Gene Fisher switched jobs on Jan. 8.

Shape, the former deputy mayor, was unanimously elected as mayor. Fisher stepped down as mayor and was elected deputy mayor by a 4-3 vote over Councilman Tony Anderson. Voting for Fisher were Chris Wythe, Tony Anderson, Shape and Fisher. Terry Anderson, Joe Brennan and newly elected Councilwoman Mia Gregerson voted for Tony Anderson.

Like all Highline-area cities except Tukwila, where voters elect their mayor separately, Burien has a "weak mayor" system of municipal government in which council members choose a mayor from their ranks to preside over meetings and represent the city at ceremonial functions.

In Tukwila, Jim Haggerton was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 7. He replaced Steve Mullet who served as mayor for eight years. Haggerton defeated Councilwoman Pam Carter in the November election.

A city manager administers the day-by-day government operations of the government.

For more information, check www.HighlineTimes.com on Jan. 12 or the Jan. 16 issue of the paper.