Eastman navigates early hurdles

REARDAN — Newly elected Mayor Kathy Eastman is navigating early turbulence in her administration, defending her solo decision to hire a full-time deputy clerk while vowing to mend rifts with the City Council after a contentious meeting exposed divides over transparency and budget moves.

In a follow-up interview after last week’s Reardan City Council session, Eastman explained her hiring of Juliet Richards without prior council approval, citing her authority as mayor to handle personnel matters.

“The mayor is the one that has authority to hire and fire,” Eastman said. “I’ve been going to meetin...