December 5, 2023
Below is the link to the Town of Farmville’s December meeting of the Board of Commissioners. In what might be a first, three commissioners did not vote to make the highest vote-getter from the most recent election the Mayor Pro Tem.
After the swearing-in of three commissioners and the mayor on the evening of December 4, it came time to elect a Mayor Pro Tem, who would serve temporarily as the mayor if said mayor could not be at a meeting or fulfill that role. Immediately, Commissioner Alma Hobbs nominated Commissioner David Shackleford. Shackleford accepted this nomination. Commissioner Bobby Evans, reticent to speak up at his first meeting, felt compelled to bring up with the utmost respect that, for as long as he could remember, the highest vote-getter in the most recent election was nominated and voted in as Mayor Pro Tem. With that, he nominated November’s highest vote-getter, Commissioner Mark Flanagan. Flanagan accepted the nomination.
Commissioner Bert Smith admitted that he realized the practice of giving the honor to the highest vote-getter had been “established protocol,” but questioned whether or not is was written as an ordinance or any legally-binding rule. Town Manager David Hodgkins said he always was told that this was a custom in the Town of Farmville, but did not think it was a written rule. Town Attorney Christopher Edwards said he did not remember a time when there had been multiple nominations, but that there was “a first time for everything.” Edwards did not believe Farmville’s practice had been statutory in nature.
Two years prior, at the December 2021 Town Board meeting, Commissioner Brenda Elks said she thought they would do what they “always” did and nominate the highest vote-getter from the November election. She nominated Commissioner Shackleford. Commissioner Alma Hobbs seconded it. The vote was unanimous for Commissioner Shackleford to become Mayor Pro Tem.
On December 4, 2023 Mayor Moore suggested having a secret ballot and asked if that would be okay. Edwards believed so. Moore then asked if he himself could appoint who would do the counting and Edwards said he thought so, commenting, “we’re really in unchartered waters.” A paper vote was taken. Commissioners Evans and Flanagan followed established protocol and voted to honor the top vote-getter, Flanagan. Commissioners Hobbs, Shackleford, and Smith voted to break with tradition and elected Shackleford.
The nomination process starts at about 17:00. Before that you can see the swearing-in.
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