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Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010

Perry, Centerville officials sworn in

Officials in Perry and Centerville were sworn in Jan. 5, with both cities welcoming new mayors.

More than 100 people crammed council chambers in Perry’s City Hall for the first meeting of the new council, which included a brief swearing-in ceremony for incoming Mayor Jimmy Faircloth, incoming councilmen William Jackson, Joe Posey and Randall Walker, and re-elected councilwoman Phyllis Bynum-Grace.

The only hiccup occurred when City Attorney David Walker was reading the oath to be repeated to him by the four council members.

Apparently, he read more than they could recall, standing in silence as if to let him figure out how to handle the situation.

All were given a sheet from which to read the oath as he said it.

In Centerville, John R. Harley was sworn in as mayor in front of more than 50 people gathered at City Hall.

“The last time we had this many people here, there was a tax increase involved,” Councilman Edward Tucker joked before the ceremony.

Houston County Superior Court Judge Edward D. Lukemire administered the oath. Harley, a former city administrator, replaces Harold “Bubba” Edwards at the helm.

“I’ve got some fine people up here. We’re going to do some great things together,” Harley said. “I’m just so excited about being ready to work with this team.”

City Councilmen Cameron Andrews and Randall Wright, who were unopposed in the election, also were sworn in at the meeting.

The council unanimously appointed Councilman Robert Smith as mayor pro tem. The selection was based on a rotating schedule.

Council also unanimously approved the reappointments of Municipal Court judges Jeff Grube and Fred Graham, Municipal Court Solicitor Susan McNally, Municipal Court Public Defender Rabb Wilkerson and Administrative Law Judge Herb Wells.

To contact writer Marlon A. Walker, call 256-9685.

To contact writer Jennifer Burk, call 256-9705.