The Manhattan Beach City Council held its mayoral transition ceremony on Tuesday night, as outgoing Mayor Hildy Stern passed the gavel to incoming Mayor Steve Napolitano.

By Manhattan Beach tradition, the mayoral position rotates among City Council members. Each member holds the position for nine months. 

For Napolitano, a City Council veteran, this will be his sixth term as mayor. His term will officially extend through March 23, 2023.

Councilmember Richard Montgomery now becomes Mayor Pro Tem, with his term as mayor to begin on March 23.

Each councilmember thanked Stern for her term as mayor, expressing appreciation for her "kindness initiative" while she held the office. She also received an emotional thanks from her husband, as well as personal Zoom appearances from Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and Congressman Ted Lieu.

Napolitano quipped that following Stern's "kindness initiative" he would be launching a "sarcasm initiative."

But in all seriousness, he added, "No one in this room is happier than Mayor Stern right now. Being mayor is [City] Council times one thousand. It's never ending, but you did it with grace...We appreciate your kindness, your calmness...You are the beating heart of this council."

Speaking of the Manhattan Beach City Council's tradition of rotating the position of mayor, he said, "It’s a nice reminder that we’re all here to serve the community, the whole community."

Napolitano added, "I love Manhattan Beach, Manhattan Beach is my home, and i will always do my best for everyone in it."