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The Stonecrest City Council in a 5-0 vote elected George Turner as its new mayor pro tem on Jan. 16 over the objections of Councilmember Diane Adoma, the out-going mayor pro tem.
“…I am adamantly upset that this Council have chosen to ambush this particular topic without giving me any notification,” Adoma said. “…I am abstaining from this vote today because we have a council who feel like they don’t have to be accountable to the people nor the charter nor the Constitution and I will not cast a vote today to remove me as a legal, sitting mayor pro tem without valid cause.”
The mayor pro tem conducts meetings and carries out other duties in the mayor’s absence.
Adoma said she had a right to serve two years as mayor pro tem, based on an opinion by City Attorney Tom Kurrie, who acknowledged his opinion but also stated the council did not have to abide by it.
Clanton said the council should follow the city’s charter, which states that the council elects the mayor pro tem at the first regular meeting of the year following a municipal election. Three council members’ terms expired on Dec. 31: Councilmembers Adoma, Jazzmin Cobble and Jimmy Clanton. They were all installed during a special-called meeting on Jan. 3.
The Jan. 16 meeting marked the first regular meeting for the new year, following the elections. Clanton and George Turner said the city charter states the two-year term for mayor pro tem is effective after each municipal election is held.