The St. Albans City Council on Nov. 17 appointed Earl Whittington to fill a vacancy in Ward 1 and immediately administered the oath of office.

Whittington, who described himself to the council as a 30-year law-enforcement veteran and former county magistrate, told council members he would bring “problem solving” and leadership experience to the post. “My name is Earl Whittington. I come to you today to ask to be appointed as a council member here,” he said during his remarks.

Rob Keefer, the other nominee, also addressed the council and outlined decades of prior service on the council and work in local real estate and economic development. “Most of you know that I’ve sat on this city council for 24 years,” Keefer said while asking members to reappoint him.

Council members were asked, in turn, to name their preferred candidate. After the roll-call-style selection, the mayor announced that Whittington had been selected to fill the Ward 1 vacancy and invited him to the dais. The mayor then administered the oath of office, during which Whittington repeated the oath to support the U.S. and state constitutions and the city charter.

The council did not record a formal written motion or a complete roll call in the minutes beyond the verbal naming of preferences and the mayor’s announcement that Whittington was the successful candidate.

Whittington’s immediate priorities, as stated in his remarks, include bringing law-enforcement experience to city deliberations and taking a hands-on approach to solving neighborhood problems. The council’s action fills the Ward 1 seat so the new member may begin participating in council business.

The meeting continued with other agenda items after the swearing-in.