The Jackson City Council on Sept. 30 confirmed a series of mayoral appointments that will staff the city’s senior management and municipal court, the council said at a special meeting called to address time-sensitive payroll and operational issues.

The council approved appointments including Peter Tabison as chief administrative officer; Rayshawn O’Thomas as fire chief; Drew M. Martin as city attorney; Lorenzo Anderson, P.E., as public works director; Nathan Slater as information technology director; Nick Lott as director of constituent services and communications; Pamela D.C. Junior as director of Human and Cultural Services; Angela Harris as municipal clerk; Toya Martin as human resources director; and six municipal judges. Voting outcomes were recorded by item (see “Votes at a glance”).

The confirmations matter because the appointees will lead departments central to city services, from public safety and courts to infrastructure, IT and human resources, at a time when the administration says it is addressing urgent payroll and capital needs.

Council discussion before votes ranged from questions about individual qualifications to broader operational priorities. Council members and nominees addressed court operations and a looming payroll deadline for judges, long‑standing infrastructure and blight problems, the condition of fire stations and staffing levels, and plans to modernize the city’s information systems.

Several confirmations were unanimous. For other nominees the roll reflected recusal or dissent: one council member recused from the vote on the Human and Cultural Services director; the municipal clerk nomination passed 6–1; the human resources director nomination passed 5–2. The mayor’s office told the council it considered the confirmations time‑sensitive because municipal judges face a 90‑day payment limitation that could interrupt court operations if seats remain vacant.

Votes at a glance

- Item: Confirmation of Peter Tabison as chief administrative officer. Motion: Confirm mayor’s appointment. Outcome: Approved. Tally: 6 yes, 0 no, 1 not voting/absent (not all names recorded in the transcript). (Transcript evidence: agenda item introduction through vote at ~71.0–344.6 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Rayshawn O’Thomas as fire chief. Outcome: Approved, 7–0. (Transcript evidence: item introduction through vote at ~466.4–1067.9 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Pamela D.C. Junior as director, Department of Human and Cultural Services. Outcome: Approved; recorded as 6 yes (one recusal noted). (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~1203.2–1706.3 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Nathan Slater as information technology director. Outcome: Approved, 7–0. (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~1780.9–2210.1 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Nick Lott as director of constituent services and communications. Outcome: Approved, 7–0. (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~2266.3–2713.5 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Angela Harris as municipal clerk. Outcome: Approved, 6–1. (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~2763.8–3091.7 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Toya Martin as director of human resources. Outcome: Approved, 5–2. (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~3122.2–4020.6 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Drew M. Martin as city attorney. Outcome: Approved, 6–0. (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~4084.5–5081.9 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of Lorenzo Anderson, P.E., as public works director. Outcome: Approved (tally not specified in transcript). (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~5181.9–6912.6 seconds.)

- Item: Confirmation of six municipal judges (Taryn Buchanan, Kevin Bass, Lily Bass, June Hardwick, Jeffrey Reynolds, Virginia Watkins). Outcome: Approved (recorded affirmative count referenced in the transcript). (Transcript evidence: item intro through vote at ~7033.3–7331.9 seconds.)

Council members pressed nominees on qualifications and on near‑term operational priorities: the mayor’s administration said it is prioritizing roof repairs at fire stations so a $2,000,000 Capital Complex Improvement District award for an early‑warning system can be installed, and the mayor’s office flagged a separate $40,000,000 bond authorization to fund ditches, drainage, street and bridge repair. Council members repeatedly raised blight, demolition and courthouse enforcement as areas where legal and operational action is needed.

Several nominees briefly described their backgrounds on the record: Drew M. Martin (city attorney nominee) said his office’s goal is “to keep the city out of trouble” and to help the governing authorities get things done; Nathan Slater (IT director nominee) described security of digital assets and an early initiative to examine artificial intelligence and staff upskilling; Rayshawn O’Thomas (fire chief nominee) cited 26 years with the Jackson Fire Department and prior service as a union president; and Toya Martin (HR director nominee) summarized work to modernize performance evaluation and onboarding and pledged periodic reporting to council on exit‑interview trends.

Looking ahead, the administration told council members it will continue evaluating the municipal court’s structure and whether to shift judges from part‑time to full‑time roles to avoid payment interruptions. Separately, the mayor and several council members said they will press for legal and legislative options to accelerate demolition of blighted properties and to expand tools available for municipal enforcement.

Note on sources: All quotes and attributions are taken from the Sept. 30 special meeting transcript. Where the transcript recorded a roll call number but not named votes, the article reports the tally as recorded and notes when names were not specified.

Ending

The confirmed appointees take on leadership roles at a time when the mayor’s office says the administration must move quickly on infrastructure repairs, court continuity and modernization of city systems. Several council members said they expect follow‑up briefings and periodic reports from the new department heads as the administration implements its priorities.