STOCKBRIDGE, GA (WXIA) – By a unanimous vote, the Stockbridge City Council named Councilman Anthony Ford as mayor pro tem at their first regularly scheduled meeting of 2016, on Monday, January 11.
Ford, a retired Army Colonel, has lived with his family in Stockbridge since 2010, and has served as councilman since 2014. He has also served as president of his homeowners association and has been active in a number of organizations at Dutchtown High School, where his daughter attended prior to attending college.
Three newly-elected council members were also sworn in at Monday's meeting – Elton Alexander, John Blount and Hernitha Robinson. Along with Ford, the three were sworn in by Stockbridge Municipal Court Judge Matthew McCord.
The city council is requesting approval from the state legislature to hold a special election to allow for the election of a new permanent mayor for the city. At a town hall meeting held on January 7, citizens from the community suggested that a plurality of the vote, rather than a majority vote occur – which would require a candidate to receive 50 percent plus one vote in order to secure a victory.
The requests are being forwarded to the legislature for consideration. Ford would continue to hold office until a special election would be able to be held.
