Murphy – Town council members renewed their oaths, or in two cases took oaths for the first time, to open the Dec. 10 meeting.
Barry McClure, who is starting his 13th year on the town council and has never missed a meeting, was named mayor pro tem. Council member Gail Walker Stansell described McClure, a retired public school principal, as level headed.
McClure is beginning his fourth term on the council. Frank Dickey had been the most senior member on the council, but he did not seek re-election to a sixth term after serving for 20 years.
Mayor Tim Radford, who took his oath earlier in the day, administered oaths to the six council members at the start of the meeting on Dec. 10. While council members may not always agree, Radford said they should always treat each other with respect, civility and trust and demonstrate to the town that they are capable and caring representatives.
Returning to the board along with Radford and McClure are Cynthia Chastain, Charlene Smith and Stansell. The November election was the first for Chastain, who was appointed to the board to fill a vacancy.
New to the board are Jonathan Dickey, a former Cherokee County commissioner and owner of Fatback’s; and Kimberly Harris, an assistant district attorney.
In their oaths, the mayor and council members “do solemnly swear that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States; and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith, and that I will well and truly execute the duties of the office of Commissioner for the Town of Murphy, North Carolina, according to the best of my skill and ability, according to law; so help me God.”