The City Council voted Tuesday against reappointing local restaurateur John Bean to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, instead picking the manager of the Wendy”s on Highway 182 for the position.
Bernard Buckhalter, who has been at the East Columbus Wendy”s for 20 years and has lived in the city 35 years, will get his first taste of board action at the next CVB meeting, June 20.
Buckhalter and Bean were the only two applicants for the restaurant owner or employer seat on the nine-member board, which is still waiting for its final member to be appointed by Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders.
Bean was nominated by Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin, a motion seconded by Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box. They voted for Bean, while councilmen Gene Taylor of Ward 1, Joseph Mickens Sr. of Ward 2, Fred Stewart of Ward 4 and Kabir Karriem of Ward 5 voted against.
After the motion to accept Bean failed, Taylor nominated Buckhalter, which was seconded by Stewart. Gavin”s vote was the only vote against Buckhalter.
After the meeting, Mickens said the vote “wasn”t personal,” and that he voted for Buckhalter because Buckhalter had lobbied for his support.
“Buckhalter came to me — Bean didn”t,” he added.
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