Pierce County Council voted Tuesday to elect Councilmember Dan Roach as chairman for 2014.

“This is a great honor and responsibility, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve,” said Roach, who is beginning his fourth year representing District 1 in East Pierce County. “I look forward to applying my experience in public policy and as a business owner to the challenges the county faces as we set and fund the priorities of government.”

Prior to his election to Pierce County Council in 2010, Roach served five terms in the Washington State House of Representatives. The owner of Roach Gymnastics in Sumner, the Councilman lives in the Bonney Lake area with his wife Melanie and their five children.

Councilmembers also selected Councilmember Stan Flemming (District 7) as vice chairman, and Joyce McDonald (District 2) as executive pro tem. Flemming also previously served in the state House and was the founding mayor of the City of University Place. He’s a family physician and retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army who joined the Council in 2010. McDonald, who is starting her sixth year on the Council, spent the past two years as chair of the County Council, a position that rotates among the members. She previously served five terms in the state House.

The chairman presides at all regular Council meetings, while the vice chair presides in the absence of the chairman. The executive pro tem is a councilmember selected to perform some of the County Executive’s duties in the event of the executive’s absence or temporary disability.

More information is available online at piercecountywa.org/council.