Bartstow’s new mayor, Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre (right), was sworn-in during a ceremony Dec. 3, and Spc. Usman Zach Khattak, from 51st Translator Interpreter Company, here, was there to take in the festivities. The city also received Mike Lewis (left) as the new city treasurer and Rich Harpole (center) as a new council member. Miss Barstow and Miss Teen Barstow also attended the event.
The Desert Dispatch newspaper reported that Hackbarth-McIntyre first became involved in city government in 1999 when she was elected to the fire board after there was a recall of three board members, an incident she says sparked one of her biggest initiatives as mayor: transparency. The highest priorities for her are to improve city infrastructure, create jobs and beautifying Barstow. She wants to encourage open communication between the community and city government, and hopes to develop a revitalization plan for the downtown area and carry forward the City Council’s beautification plans.
