Smith: New council has 'the promise of vast possibility' Mayor Robert Smith, right, swears in new City Council members, from left, Bill Gavin, Kabir Karriem, Fred Stewart, Charlie Box, Joseph Mickens Sr. and Gene Taylor (behind Smith). / Kelly Tippet
The new City Council must be a force of unity to propel Columbus forward, Dr. James A. Boyd of Zion Gate Missionary Baptist Church said Thursday, as the mayor and councilmen were sworn into office during a ceremony at the Trotter Convention Center.
In addition to hundreds of city residents, former and current elected officials, city department heads and city employees witnessed the oath of office, administered first by Circuit Judge Lee Howard to Mayor Robert Smith, who then swore the councilmen into office.
Noting he was "humbled by the support and trust placed" in him, Smith said honoring a pledge to "affirm that trust will be the heartbeat" of his administration.
"It will guide every action I take," he promised. "I want you to know that I will continue to be a mayor who takes responsibility and leads by example."
"The occasion that we celebrate here today is about much more than the oath of one man," he said. "It's about an oath we all must take and commit to. We're here because we are committed to making Columbus a great city, to rise above our differences, to meet our collective challenges, to define our mutual dreams and to take stock of where we've been as a city and where we're going.
"In short, we stand poised between the promise of vast possibility and, if we fail to act, a future of profound ambiguity," he added.
Smith thanked the outgoing council members -- Gene Coleman, Susan Mackay, Jay Jordan, who also served as vice mayor, and Jerry Kendall -- for their service.
"Running for and holding elective office takes a special kind of person who is heavily involved in his or her community, driven to make a difference for all its people," Smith said. "It can often be a thankless job, making decisions from time to time that seem to please no one."
And he thanked the current councilmen -- Ward 1 Councilman Gene A. Taylor, an incumbent, Ward 2 Councilman Joseph W. Mickens Sr., Ward 3 Councilman Charlie E. Box, Ward 4 Councilman Fred E. Stewart Jr., an incumbent, Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem, and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin -- for their "dedication" to the city.
"Thank you to each one for refusing to be back-seat drivers in the work of this city," he said. "You have presented yourselves as public servants, who are team players committed to a better Columbus."
"Every citizen in Columbus is an equal stakeholder in our city's future," Smith concluded. "We can't succeed as a community if we do not provide everyone with the opportunity to participate in the civic life of the city and we can't truly flourish if citizens in every neighborhood don't feel fully invested in our economic success. We know that, united, we are stronger and, united, a great city can accomplish many things. Can you imagine the accomplishments that we can achieve together when we remove barriers, such as race, geography, language, age, religion and gender?"
"Each of you come as individuals," Boyd told the councilmen and mayor. "You must abandon your individual dreams; you must abandon your individual visions. Columbus must be one. One ward does not make Columbus; each ward together makes Columbus.
"You must look beyond color," he continued. "You must look as human beings created by God. Together we stand, divided we fall. Unfortunately, you are not blessed with time to criticize the past; you must pick up the torch and run as fast as you can. You must make Columbus the shining star she deserves to be. Your constituents trust you and they are anxiously awaiting you to represent them to the best of your ability. You have to lay aside selfish agendas."
I am proud of the new councilmen. We will move forward together. Unity for the community. If they will all stay humble and right then we will be right to others as we grow. Keep the bad people out of Columbus.
Congratulation to Mayor Smith and the Council of Columbus, a city that has always had the potential to be a truly model city, for not only the state of Mississippi, but the entire nation. Residents, who voted, in the historic election to produce this new administration are deserving of much kudos, too! Having done your civic duty and brought about this promising result, continue to work with the Honorable Mayor and Council and do not shy away when it comes time for the heavy-lifting that invariably will come. You have dedicated public servants in office. Give them the support they deserve and no obstacle will prevent you (Us) from realizing and experiencing what our foreparents hoped, dreamed and prayed for Columbus.
I send a special Congrats to Karriem. I know that you're dedicated to the district you serve, but you're also committed to helping make Columbus be all that it can be. Carry the baton as swiftly and as far, as you can. That is all that predecessors can ask or expect of you. We know that you are well-prepared and willing.
We've got a great Mayor. I respect him greatly, but he knows and he has already heard me say it, my buddy and idol is Mac. We're with you all of the way, Mayor Smith.
I, too, would like to thank our "honorable" mayor for the job he has done for me and my family.
The "honorable" mayor is SUCH a role model in his business dealings, in his ability to keep the city's clean up crews busy, in his family matters (I know we the people are so proud of his children)and the responsible way he has taken care of people indebted to him and his business. People like me!
THANK YOU SO MUCH "HONORABLE" MR.SMITH!
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