Fortunately, this one--while no less heated than a political rivalry--is relatively civil.

Former Mayor Dean Chu and newly elected Vice-Mayor Otto Lee are proud graduates of UC-Berkeley. New Councilman Chris Moylan is a chemistry lecturer at--and proud graduate of--Stanford University.

Their first good-natured jabs at one another as colleagues were part of the atmosphere at the Nov. 27 induction ceremony in city council chambers.

A packed house that spilled out into the lobby and nearby conference room turned out to honor outgoing council members Fred Fowler and Julia Miller and welcome Moylan and Tony Spitaleri to the dais.

The first order of business, following the approval of the consent calendar, was the recognition of Fowler and Miller for their combined 16 years of council service.

Fowler spoke first, and after he recounted his successes on the council, he was presented with a number of parting gifts, including resolutions from state State Sen. Elaine Alquist and Assemblywoman Sally Lieber.

Fowler was also presented with a $390.86 gift from the city. Traditionally, outgoing council members are given a catalog of items that can be purchased with the gift money, but he decided to do something more permanent.

"Clocks can break and desk sets can run out of ink," Fowler said.

Fowler turned around and gave the money to service organization City Year, which he has been involved with for many years.

"I fought my battles, I have my scars, I have my victory trophies, I mourn my losses," Fowler said before he stepped down. "But the civic process is full of battles, and it's time for someone else to fight them."

Miller gave a similar speech from her seat on the dais and thanked many city staff and community members by name for their help and support.

After a brief recess, the new council members were sworn into office.

Starting his second term, John Howe was sworn in by his wife, Jody, and joked that "the last time we did something like this, it was 22 years ago, and 'I do' worked."

Spitaleri was sworn in--with his wife and daughter at his side--by former Sunnyvale Mayor Pat Castillo and Judge Eugene Hymen.

"The future is bright for Sunnyvale, and I'm excited that I get to be a part of that process," Spitaleri said.

Moylan--with his wife and two children standing by--was sworn in my former Sunnyvale Mayor Dianne McKenna, and--running true to his background in community theater--recited the entire vow on his own, without help.

He later joked, while thanking those involved in his campaign, that he was "the last thing standing between these people and a glass of wine."

"I'm happy to be a part of this team, now let's get that mall fixed," he said as he finished a speech that included a story of how his pet cat has used the precinct information he had collected as a litter box.

Once the new council was in place, Vice Mayor Ron Swegles was elected as Sunnyvale's next mayor, with Otto Lee joining him as vice mayor.

Chu was honored for his past year of service, and given a gift from the city. He used part of the money to have a copy of the July 4 State of the City poster framed, and gave the rest to the Northwest YMCA, where he first became interested in civic service as a young boy.

The final order of the night was to assign new seats, and so now, from left to right, the council is Spitaleri, Howe, Lee, Swegles, Melinda Hamilton, Chu and Moylan.

The new team tackles its first agenda on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in city council chambers, 456 W. Olive Avenue.