Bullhead City council swears in Pamela Smith; Rodney Head selected mayor, Alfonso named vice mayor

The Bullhead City Council on July 15 swore in Pamela Smith as a council member and voted to appoint Rodney Head as mayor and Alfonso as vice mayor.

The new council member, Pamela Smith, repeated the oath of office administered by court staff and was then seated. Council then nominated and voted on leadership: a motion to appoint Rodney Head as mayor carried 7-0, and a motion to appoint Alfonso as vice mayor also carried 7-0. Under city code, the vice mayor is selected at the beginning of the fiscal year, the council noted when introducing the vote.

Why it matters: The leadership shift is a routine but consequential step that sets who will preside over council meetings and represent the city for the coming year. The council also used the meeting to formally recognize outgoing mayor Steve D'Amico and mark his transition to a new role.

After the swearing-in and appointments, the council presented certificates and a congressional recognition to outgoing mayor Steve D'Amico. The city manager read a certificate noting D'Amico's election history and recent selection as executive director of the Bullhead City Metropolitan Planning Organization. Penny Pugh, from Representative Paul Gosar's office, read a House of Representatives recognition into the congressional record and presented a challenge coin.

Former mayor Steve D'Amico, who said he's recently taken the executive-director position at the Bullhead City Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the council he was grateful and brief: "I'm not a long speech guy. I'm pretty much short, sweet, and to the point," he said.

Mayor Rodney Head used his first official remarks to apologize to his spouse for not including her during his swearing-in and thanked the council and staff. The meeting then briefly recessed for about 10 minutes while staff rearranged the chamber for the remainder of the agenda.