Henderson Council swears in new members, elects Walker as mayor pro tem after brief dispute

Henderson — The City Council on Dec. 29 administered oaths to re-elected and newly elected members, formalized its leadership and paid tribute to long-serving councilmembers.

Judge J. Henry Banks administered oaths to re-elected members and to newly elected councilmembers, including Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, who will be the council’s first Hispanic/Latino member, and Catherine Miles Gill, who joins her brother, Councilmember Michael Venable, marking the first sibling pair to serve together on the body.

Mayor Melissa Elliott led recognitions that honored outgoing Councilmember Sara M. Coffey for 18 years of service and Ola Thorpe-Cooper for decades of public service. Coffey and Thorpe-Cooper addressed the council as they were congratulated for their contributions.

Following a recess, councilmembers cast ballots for a new mayor pro tem. The City Clerk reported "four votes for one councilmember, three votes for another, and one vote for a third member." Mayor Elliott announced that Councilmember Tami Walker received the most votes and was elected mayor pro tem; Walker said she would "do her best to fulfill the responsibilities of the role." The clerk supervised collection and counting of the ballots in the presence of the city manager.

Mayor Elliott accused Councilmember Lamont Noel of asking Walker during the recess if she wanted the mayor pro tem post; Councilmembers Noel and Walker both emphatically denied that allegation. The council did not take further formal action on the accusation during the meeting.

The swearing-in and leadership votes were conducted as part of a special called meeting that also included routine resolutions and public-comment items. The council recessed briefly for a reception for the newly sworn officials and their guests.

The council adjourned at 8:34 p.m.