The new face on the Waleska City Council has a familiar name.

Paul Ice will begin his first term on the council next month, taking over the seat left vacant by his son, Stanley Ice.

Stanley Ice, who today ends his second stint on the council, decided against running again in November.

Three seats were up for a vote in the election, and only three candidates qualified: Councilmen Dennis "Hill" Cochran and Floyd Puckett and Paul Ice. As a result, they all were shoo-ins for four-year terms.

"I'm retired, so I've got some time now where I can participate," Paul Ice, 67, said about deciding to get involved in city leadership. "I'm interested in what is going on. I think everyone should be."

A common guest at council meetings over the past few years, Paul Ice said his attendance piqued his interest in what was happening in his community.

"You just sort of get involved in what is going on," said Paul Ice, who is retired from Lucent Technologies, and with his wife, Joyce, has three children including Stanley and five grandchildren. "This is something new for me and hopefully it will be interesting."

Stanley Ice said his father should be able to jump right into service on the council without the need to play catch-up on city events.

"Every once in a while, you will find him out there listening pretty intently," Stanley Ice said about seeing his dad at council meetings, adding the elder Ice also had an inside look at the council as the two often would talk about city issues. "He would talk to me about what his opinion was."

Mayor Doris Jones said the council is excited about welcoming Paul Ice to his new position.

"His son did a great job, and I know that he will bring the same experience and thoughtfulness and knowledge," she said. "He is very attentive to come to the meetings. I think he is going to do a fine job."

Paul Ice said his main focus will be on the city's water system and growing its service area.

"Our big thing here is the water system. We should expand it as the opportunity presents itself and it is feasible," he said.

He also plans on helping the city pursue bringing a library to the town.

"I think it would get a lot of use," he said about having a public library in the city.