Most of Mebane city council’s Monday night monthly meeting was taken up by the formal certification of election results and swearing in of one returning and two new council members.
Tim Bradley, who has served for 28 years (seven consecutive terms), was sworn in for his eighth term Monday night. Council members later elevated him to the post of mayor pro tem, a largely ceremonial honor except when he must step in to preside in the absence of mayor Ed Hooks.
Meanwhile, council newcomers Jonathan White and Montrena Hadley were also sworn in, with members of their respective families assisting. Both candidates were successful in their first runs for public office. Hadley had also served as a city planner for the city before leaving the city’s employ in 2020.
White was the runner-up to Bradley, according to official vote total lists by city clerk Stephanie Shaw at the beginning of the meeting. In the two-county area (Alamance & Orange) which Mebane straddles, Bradley had 986 votes; White had 950; and Hadley had 853.
[Editor’s Note: according to tallies from the respective boards of election in each county, Katie Burkholder had 725 votes; Charles Lopez had 702; and Roger Parker had 381.]
Shaw swore in Bradley and White; Alamance County district court judge Larry Brown swore in Hadley, also taking the opportunity to highlight the “historic occasion” of Hadley’s seating as the “first African American woman” elected to the Mebane city council.
The new council then took a few minutes to honor the departing members, Jill Auditori and Everette Greene, neither of whom sought re-election. “Both have been tremendously dedicated,” said Hooks in presenting the two with honorary certificates as well as an artistic brick-like replica of the city’s logo produced by a local artist.
Greene said he had appreciated the respect that each member of the council had shown to each other. Greene had been a councilman for 16 years and chairman of the city’s planning board for decades prior to that. Hooks tallied 35 years of service to the city.
Greene likened Mebane as no longer a “bedroom community,” but one which had grown to be a “living room community,” as the city has grown into the second largest – surpassing Graham as second to Burlington, according to the most recent U.S. Census.
For her part, Auditor said it had been a “true honor and privilege” to serve for 12 years on the council, as she teared up near the conclusion of the ceremony.
She linked arms with Greene as the two strode out the council chambers to a standing ovation from audience members.
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