Gary Barton was appointed Tuesday as mayor for the City of Ripon.

This is his first go-around at Seat No. 1, in accordance with the Ripon City Council Reorganization ordinance.

Barton, who had served on the Ripon Planning Commission, was made a provisional appointment in December 2021 – he was picked to fill the vacancy left by newly elected Tim Wheeler, who moved out-of-state with his family.

He ran unopposed in the 2024 election.

“I want to thank my fellow Council members,” said Barton, who praised outgoing mayor Daniel de Graaf for representing the city during the past year.

His family was in attendance at the monthly session, including his parents Jerry and Janet Barton, and other family members including his sister Mona, who is the wife of fellow elected leader Mike Restuccia.

“This looks like a family reunion,” Restuccia jokingly said.

City Clerk Lisa Roos said that Barton and Dean Uecker accepted the positions of mayor and vice mayor (Seat No. 2), respectively.

Restuccia (No. 3) and Leo Zuber (No. 4) both advanced one spot in the assigned seating arrangements while de Graaf moved down to Seat No. 5.