Kerry Smith, the Gearhart City Council president, will serve as interim mayor after Paulina Cockrum’s resignation last week.

His term of office begins immediately on appointment and continues through the unexpired term of Cockrum in 2024.

Last month, two-thirds of voters said “no” to the $14.5 million bond measure to build a firehouse and a police station on property off Highlands Lane north of the city. The election was driven by passion on both sides, with competing social media campaigns and sign wars.

Cockrum’s decision to resign came the day after a heated meeting in which speakers called for a council recall. Cockrum cited personal reasons when she resigned.

“I believe it’s going to be a challenge being mayor, in that we have such a polarization of the population among the voters in Gearhart,” Smith said. “I’m going to try and work with all sides and find a resolution for this fire station.”

He said he will start with a town hall.

“That’s going to be my focus for the summer is trying to work with these diverse groups of people that feel that they’ve got some — I don’t want to call them more important — but they’ve got an important message they want to deliver to everybody. I want to be able to listen to it. But I’m certainly my own person. I will do what I feel is right for the city.”

Smith, 68, is a property owner and manager.

Smith was elected to the council in 2014. In 2018 he won reelection, running against Jack Zimmerman, a leading opponent of the fire bond.

A majority of the remaining councilors appoint a replacement to serve the unexpired portion of Smith’s Position 1 term.

“My message to the voters of Gearhart is we need to move on and not dwell on the past anymore,” Smith said.