By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
Hays City Commissioners were sworn in during Thursday’s meeting.
Commissioners Shaun Musil and Sandy Jacobs were re-elected in November and will serve four-year terms. Commissioner David Vilaysing was also elected, serving a two-year term.
Commissioners Mason Ruder and Alaina Cunningham were not up for election this year.
The Commission nominated and elected Mason Ruder as Mayor and Alaina Cunningham as Vice Mayor.
Outgoing Mayor Sandy Jacobs thanked the community for the opportunity to continue serving as a commissioner.
“Titles may change, but values don’t,” Jacobs said. “As I step down as Mayor and continue as City Commissioner, servant leadership remains my guiding principle. Public service is a responsibility. Leadership to me has never been about position or title, but about listening, bringing people together and keeping the community at the center of every decision.”
Mayor Ruder thanked Jacobs for her service.
“What stands out about your term is how consistently you brought people together not just to talk, but to actually move work forward through collaboration,” Ruder said. “You’ve been a steady voice for economic development that’s practical and community-minded and growth that creates opportunity and strengthens Hays for the long run.”
The Commission approved the 2026 Rules and Procedures.
The next City Commission meeting will be at 4:00 p.m. on January 22 at City Hall.