Concord swears in mayor and councilors; Councilor Sekou elected mayor pro tem

Concord Mayor Byron O. Champlin and newly elected and re-elected city councilors took the oath of office at the Jan. 5 Concord City Council meeting, and the council selected Councilor Sekou as mayor pro tem in a voice vote.

The city clerk administered the oath to Champlin, during which the mayor pledged “to do everything in my ability to serve you in the best interests of this fine city.” Council members then individually repeated the oath of office.

The chair opened nominations for mayor pro tem. Councilor Todd nominated Councilor Sekou; another councilor offered a second. Councilor Brown nominated Michelle Horn for mayor pro tem, but that nomination failed for lack of a second. The council then voted by voice to confirm Councilor Sekou as mayor pro tem; the chair declared, “Ayes have it.” (Voice vote; counts not specified.)

Mayor Pro Tem Sekou thanked colleagues and community supporters and pledged to “lead with fairness and to listen with intention,” remarks echoed by several councilors during the ceremonial portion of the meeting.

Councilors used their initial remarks to thank supporters and staff, welcome new members to the council and highlight early priorities. A councilor formally acknowledged the recent death of Jim Howard, the city’s first finance director; the council extended sympathies to Howard’s family and recognized his decades of municipal service.

The meeting closed with a reminder that council orientation for the two new councilors is scheduled for Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in City Council chambers, followed by a unanimously approved motion to adjourn.