By CLAYTON PARK

Bill Swanberg Jr., owner of Swanberg Realty, has been named president of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Alley Chevrolet owner Dick Harris, who is turning over the organization's leadership reins he has held the past two years.

Swanberg, a longtime member of the chamber's nominating committee, says he would have preferred to stay that way, only this time his fellow members wound up turning the tables on him.

Thomas Payne, owner of Watch & Battery Center, was elected chamber vice president and Bess Handy of Lake City Bookkeeping was elected secretary/treasurer.

Succeeding someone as energetic as Harris - whose list of credits include having helped co-found the Lake City Task Force - is also a tall order, says Swanberg. "Dick (Harris) is one of a kind when it comes to being president. He put us basically on the map as being a serious organization that's recognized by the City. My hat's off to him."

Nevertheless, Swanberg says he's excited about the outlook for the Lake City business community and in being able to play a part in shaping that future. "My goal is to move on to the Millenium and make sure Lake City stays on the map."

He views the plans to redevelop the corner of Lake City Way and NE 125th that burned down in last summer's fire as being a real key to revitalizing the business district. Conversely, he expresses concerns over the state Department of Transportation's plans to make changes to the SR-522 (Lake City Way) corridor. The state's plan to install jersey barriers along Lake City Way and eliminate several of the left-turn lanes in an effort to speed traffic along the corridor "could have a real chilling effect on Lake City businesses," he says, adding that the chamber intends to make its voice be heard by DOT officials. "Lake City businesses would like to keep things the way they are, with the exception of adding more bus lanes, perhaps."

While the community shouldn't expect Swanberg to become a firebrand on issues, he says they can expect him to "work diligently, (and even) tenaciously at times to help people."

Swanberg has a vested stake in the community, having spent most of his life here. His father, Bill Swanberg Sr., came to Lake City in 1946, initially serving as manager of a business called Benton Realty before leaving to form his own company, Swanberg Realty, which has been at its current site since 1954.

Swanberg remembers helping his dad out as a kid by mopping floors and emptying waste paper baskets. He graduated from Shorecrest High School in 1966, earned a two-year degree in business from Shoreline Community College, and then went straight to work for his dad in 1969. He became a real estate broker two years later and was written up as being one of the two youngest brokers in the state. He took over the family business in 1981 following his dad's retirement.

This past year has been a year of firsts for Swanberg. In addition to being elected chamber president, he also earned his first-ever sports trophy when he took first place in the 1998 Lake City Chamber Golf Tournament.

Swanberg and his wife, Vicki, live in Edmonds. They have two grown daughters.