Sue Hack was elected Lawrence’s mayor Tuesday night by her fellow city commissioners.

“I came to Lawrence in 1965 as a freshman at KU,” she said. “I had absolutely no idea this is where I’d end up.”

Lawrence's new mayor, Sue Hack, center, is congratulated by friends Marilyn Bittenbender, left, and Kelvin Heck during a recess of the city commission meeting at City Hall. Hack replaces Mike Rundle, who finished out his one-year mayoral term Tuesday. David Dunfield was elected vice mayor.

In Lawrence, the mayor is first among equals, selected by her fellow city commissioners. She runs commission meetings and makes appointments to advisory boards, but has little other power otherwise, except for that provided by the “bully pulpit” the office provides.

She also gets paid $10,000 for her one-year term, compared to $9,000 for the other commissioners.

Hack’s selection Tuesday followed long-standing commission precedent: As the leading vote-getter in the 2001 commission campaign, she spent the 2001-02 year as vice mayor. The vice mayor is typically appointed as the city’s next mayor.

In recent weeks, Hack had spent increasing amounts of time with city staff to prepare for the mayor’s post. She also announced her retirement from teaching, effective at the end of the school year, to give her extra time to do her city duties.

Commissioner Marty Kennedy nominated Hack for mayor, seconded by Commissioner Jim Henry. Commissioners Mike Rundle, the outgoing mayor, and David Dunfield joined them in the unanimous vote.

The commissioners then selected Dunfield as vice mayor.

The mayoral selection typically occurs the first week if April, but it was moved up a week this year. Rundle will be part of a delegation visiting Lawrence’s sister city of Hiratsuka, Japan, next week to celebrate that city’s birthday and will retain the title of “mayor” for the purpose of that trip.

Hack opened her term praising her family, the media, city staff and colleagues.

“We each bring different perspectives to this table,” she said of the commission. “We each have a genuine love for this community.”

After the meeting, Hack said that after creation of the 2003 budget, economic development and job creation will be one of her top priorities. She said she wants an upcoming “image survey” by the city to help commissioners find ways to make Lawrence seem friendlier to businesses considering a move here.

“This is a terrific community,” she said. “I want to make sure people can work here, not just lay their heads on their pillows here.”