THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996             TAG: 9601110347
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                     LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

CANDID COUNCILWOMAN ELECTED MAYOR PRO TEM

Second Ward Councilwoman Anita Hummer, one of the City Council's most outspoken members, was appointed mayor pro tem by her colleagues Monday.

Hummer, still in her first term, was elected to the post on a 6-2 vote after being nominated by Councilwoman Myrtle Rivers.

First Ward Councilman Lloyd Griffin was also nominated for the post, by Councilman Zack D. Robertson Jr. Robertson and Griffin cast the only votes in Griffin's favor.

As mayor pro tem, Hummer will stand in for Mayor H. Rick Gardner when he is absent. The job pays $462 a month, compared with $565 for the mayor and $392 for other council members.

Just before the council chose its mayor pro tem, Robertson made a motion to reduce the pro tem's salary to the same level as other council members'. Only he and Griffin supported the motion.

``I think it's much more than just an honorary position,'' Hummer said in opposing the salary cut.

Hummer wasted no time in staking out turf in her new post. She took issue with the city's proposed personnel manual, saying it should be more thoroughly checked by the city attorney. She proposed that the council establish a personnel committee and promised to return to the council's work session with more details.

And just before the meeting adjourned, Hummer chided the mayor for appointing all men to the council's four standing committees. There are three women on the eight-member board.

``I don't see a single woman here appointed to head one of these committees,'' Hummer said. ``You're going to take some heat from women all over Elizabeth City.''

Gardner said he had made the choices he thought were best for the city. ``The heat won't be too great,'' he said. ``I won't have to get out of the kitchen.''

``Don't count on it,'' replied Hummer, who had considered running for mayor last summer. by CNB