MATTAWA — Maria Celaya, formerly a member of the Mattawa City Council, was appointed mayor of Mattawa last month.

The appointment came after a council meeting earlier in the day Nov. 25, where she was selected by a unanimous vote. Council members chose Celaya after a 45-minute executive session and after Mayor pro tem Brian Berghout and council member Silvia Barajas also expressed interest in the mayor’s job.

She will be in office until the next municipal election in November 2021.

Celaya replaces Scott Hyndman, who announced his resignation Nov. 23.

Celaya has been on the council since March 2010. She said in an interview after she was appointed that her interest in city government was sparked while serving as an interpreter for council meetings.

“I want to give back to my community,” she said.

Celaya is a Mattawa native. She volunteers at her church, Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Church, she said, and is a 10-year volunteer with the Red Cross.

Celaya also is a second grade teacher at Mattawa Elementary School.

“Empowering our youth is one of my biggest things,” she said.

That includes encouraging Mattawa kids to continue their education or training beyond high school.

“It’s doable,” she said.

One of the ideas she said she wanted to pursue was providing internships with the city for Wahluke students.

Celaya also said she wants to meet with the city council and staff to review where the city is and where it should be going next. One project that’s already in the works is the expansion of Mattawa City Hall.

Celaya’s appointment leaves a vacant seat on the council. People who want to apply for the seat can submit a letter of interest to Mattawa City Hall, PO Box 965, Mattawa, WA 99349. Letters of interest also can be emailed to Mattawa city clerk Anabel Martinez at amartinez@cityofmattawa-wa.gov.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.