Seeliger student sworn in as junior mayor

Charlee Dobson, 8, started the Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday with a bang of the gavel.

The Seeliger Elementary School second-grader was seated next to Mayor Lori Bagwell — the city’s first female mayor — who coached Charlee throughout the morning session as the city’s junior mayor.

If the title of “junior mayor” sounds unofficial, know that Charlee was sworn in by First Judicial District Court Judge Kristin Luis.

“I, Charlee Dobson, promise to be a loving family member, a good student and an active Carson City resident,” Charlee recited after the judge, her right hand raised.

Bagwell gave the junior mayor a lapel pin and a certificate.

“I had the honor of reading to her class at Seeliger, and she raised her hand as a good student does, and I’m like, ‘Yes?’ What did you say?” Bagwell recalled. “That’s what she told me — she wanted to be a mayor just like me. And I said, ‘I just happen to know how we can make that happen.’”

Charlee’s tenure wasn’t an easy one. She stayed on the boardroom dais with the other supervisors for the morning session, listening to thorny issues like easements for the city’s Southeast Sewer Extensions Project. Before the convening of the Liquor and Entertainment Board, Charlee adjourned, telling the Appeal she still wanted to be a mayor.

When asked how it felt to be junior mayor, Charlee responded with one word: “good.”