Retirement Celebration for Former Mayor and Councilmember - June 17

In December Mayor Tom Ryan and Councilmember Dick Swanson retired after more than 60 combined years of public service.

The community is invited to a retirement celebration for Ryan and Swanson on June 17 at Tom Ryan Park. The event will include a chance for Blaine residents to personally thank Tom Ryan and Dick Swanson, a short program, and then a concert by the Red Rock Swing Band.

Free refreshments will include: ice cream from Big Dipper Creamery, cookies from Crest View Senior Communities, and lemonade from Raising Cane's.

What: Retirement Celebration for Tom Ryan and Dick Swanson
Where: Tom Ryan Park, 10802 Town Square Drive NE
When: Thursday, June 17 - 5PM

Mayor Tom Ryan

Mayor Tom Ryan was first sworn in on the Blaine City Council in 1987. He had served on the Blaine Planning Commission for a year and decided to run for the the City Council. He won that election and has never lost an election since. He served 10 years as a councilmember and then in 1996 he ran for Mayor. Ryan took over as Mayor at the beginning of 1997 and served until the end of 2020.

Councilmember Dick Swanson

While Mayor Ryan holds the distinction for the longest serving member on the Blaine City Council, Councilmember Dick Swanson holds the record for longest serving in the role of councilmember. Swanson also retired at the end of 2020 after first being elected in 1994.