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The new Seattle School Board elected Michael DeBell as its president at its first meeting Wednesday night.

The president, who is elected each year, presides at board meetings and the executive committee, in addition to representing the board at formal functions.

DeBell, who represents the northwest part of the city, has been on the board for six years. He has served as president twice before, and spend the past year as vice president.

He has a reputation as a centrist with a deep knowledge of proper procedure.

In a brief speech during the meeting, DeBell pointed to four priorities: vision, oversight, transparency and engagement (V.O.T.E.).

“It’s V.O.T.E.,” he said to laughter. “It’s votes that got us up here and it’s our votes that count for getting our work done,”

The board also chose Central District representative Kay Smith-Blum as vice president and southeast representative Betty Patu as the third member of the executive committee.

The former president, Steve Sundquist, lost his re-election bid last month. Marty McLaren replaced him on the board Wednesday. Another new member, Sharon Peaslee, beat incumbent Peter Maier last month.