McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

July 1, 2008

Not so fast: New mayor, councilors get to cool heels for a few more days

By James Beaty

The current fiscal year ended at midnight last night, but three new officeholders in the city of McAlester won’t be sworn into office until early next week.

Plans had been to swear Mayor-elect Kevin Priddle, along with Ward 1 Councilor-elect Chris Fiedler and Ward 3 Councilor-elect John Browne, into office during Monday night’s special city council meeting, according to Mayor Don Lewis.

Plans also called for Buddy Garvin, who won re-election without opposition, to be sworn in for a four-year term on Monday night.

However, those plans changed, Lewis said.

Since Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry has not yet approved the new City Charter passed by McAlester voters during an April 13 special election, the city is still operating under the “old” charter.

That calls for newly-elected city officers to be sworn in during the first regular council meeting held in July, Lewis said. Since the regular council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, the first regularly scheduled meeting for the new fiscal year will be held at 6 p.m. on July 8.

Until then, Lewis will continue to serve as mayor, while Weldon Smith will continue to serve as the Ward 1 city councilor and Travis Read will continue to serve as the councilor in Ward 3.

This could be the last time that McAlester city officials have to wait such a length of time before taking office following their elections.

If it’s approved by the governor, the new City Charter calls for newly-elected officials to take office shortly after they’re elected, whether during the city election held in March Primary or during a runoff election in April.

One of the first duties of the new city council will be to elect a vice-mayor from among its members. Ward 6 Councilor Sam Mason is the city’s current vice-mayor, who handles mayoral duties in the mayor’s absence.

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