THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050283
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
In his first day back in a City Council chair, Zack D. Robertson Jr. assumed a leadership role.
The veteran councilman, who took a two-year hiatus before running for office again this fall, preserved the warm and festive tone of Monday's inauguration ceremony by moving to put off a vote on the council's new mayor pro tem.
He was enthusiastically seconded, and the council's only significant vote Monday was a unanimous decision to delay politicking until January.
In 1993, the last council got off on the wrong foot by twice deadlocking over two candidates for the largely honorary post.
``It'll give us 30 days to talk to one another and see who's reallyinterested in it,'' Robertson said after the ceremony in the Pasquotank County Courthouse. ``It's my intention to try and start off right.''
In two meetings that together took less than an hour Monday, the old council convened and adjourned, the mayor and four council members took the oath of office, and the new council convened and adjourned.
Within those events, words of thanks and praise were exchanged, city statesmen lingered over sentimental phrases, and council members sat shoulder-to-shoulder facing the assembled.
For Mayor H. Rick Gardner, re-elected in October after running unchallenged, the moment was too good to pass up.
``Let's get a picture, and all smiling, and see if we look like this a month from now,'' Gardner said.
Robertson, of the 2nd Ward, and Donald Yates Cherry of the 1st Ward were sworn in as new members by 1st District state Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr. Also taking the oath were Gardner and council members Jimi Sutton and Myrtle Rivers.
The council said goodbye to longtime Councilman W.L. ``Pete'' Hooker and to Finance Committee Chairman David P. Bosomworth. Both chose not to run for re-election.
``We are losing two very important members of this council,'' Gardner said. ``Dave, Pete - we're going to miss you.''
In parting remarks, both men praised others. Bosomworth said that Cherry, his successor, would be an effective councilman, and he singled out Sutton as the ``most valuable'' council member.
Hooker said he appreciated the chance to serve Elizabeth City residents.
``It's a 24-hour job, 'cause you never know what citizen's going to call upon you,'' Hooker said. ``But I can't say it's a thankless job.''
Incoming Councilman Cherry lauded the democratic system and said he was prepared ``to serve the best interest of the people of Elizabeth City.''
For his part, Sutton said he was returning to council to make a difference for his constituents.
``I see this city as a family,'' Sutton said.
Gardner was delighted with what he heard Monday.
``I love the spirit on council tonight,'' he said after the ceremony. ILLUSTRATION: Zack Robertson
Donald Cherry
by CNB