For a while it seemed gridlock would once again prevent the Augusta Commission from picking a new mayor pro tem.
The panel failed four times to elect a successor to Betty Beard, with votes falling along racial lines and commissioners abstaining so the mayor couldn't break a tie.
Then Commissioner Calvin Holland, conceding that he, J.R. Hatney and Don Grantham didn't have enough support -- Mr. Grantham twice failed to garner six votes -- nominated first-term Commissioner Alvin Mason of District 4. He received eight votes, with Mr. Grantham and Jimmy Smith abstaining.
The chamber erupted in applause.
"I'm humbled and I'm honored," Mr. Mason told the room. "And I hope I can uphold that position to the highest standards and the highest performance that I can."
Aside from prestige, the job comes with an $8,000 pay raise, an office, a reserved parking space and the responsibility of running meetings when the mayor is away. Mr. Mason will serve a one-year term, starting immediately.
Mayor pro tems can serve no more than two consecutive terms but can stay in the position by default until someone else is elected, as was the case in 2006 when Marion Williams held onto the job because no one could get six votes.
Mr. Grantham and Mr. Hatney, the two super district commissioners, had been campaigning for the job. Mr. Mason said previously that, despite a rumor to the contrary, he wasn't interested.
After the meeting, he said there had been no backroom deals.
"As God as my witness, absolutely not," he said. "I didn't ask anybody for any votes."
Among those abstaining was Jerry Brigham, who did so in the Holland and Hatney votes. He said he didn't trust Mayor Deke Copenhaver to break a tie the way he'd like him to.
Mr. Brigham cast a yes vote for Mr. Mason.
An Army veteran, Mr. Mason works in Fort Gordon's contract management department and holds a master's degree in education.
In 2006, he challenged the residency status of then-interim Commissioner Keith Brown, who eventually resigned. Mr. Mason lost to Bernard Harper in a run for the District 4 seat that year, but took it from him the next year in a runoff.
He has since been a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility, including a recent demand for an accounting of past special-purpose sales tax funds.
Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.
HOW IT WENT DOWN
The Augusta Commission elected a new mayor pro tem Tuesday on its fifth try, with Alvin Mason finally garnering the required six votes (he got 8 total). Here's how the votes went.
J.R. Hatney (nominated by Mr. Mason)
5 yes -- Betty Beard, Mr. Hatney, Calvin Holland, Corey Johnson, Mr. Mason
3 no -- Joe Bowles, Joe Jackson, Don Grantham
2 abstaining -- Jerry Brigham, Jimmy Smith
Mr. Grantham (nominated by Joe Bowles)
5 yes -- Mr. Bowles, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Grantham, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Smith
4 no -- Ms. Beard, Mr. Holland, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason
1 abstaining -- Mr. Hatney
Mr. Holland (nominated by Mr. Hatney)
5 yes -- Ms. Beard, Mr. Hatney, Mr. Holland, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason
3 no -- Mr. Bowles, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Grantham
2 abstaining -- Mr. Brigham, Mr. Smith
Mr. Grantham (nominated a second time by Mr. Brigham)
5 yes -- Mr. Bowles, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Grantham, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Smith
3 no -- Mr. Holland, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason
2 abstaining -- Ms. Beard, Mr. Hatney
Mr. Mason (nominated by Mr. Holland)
8 yes --Ms. Beard, Mr. Bowles, Mr. Brigham, Mr. Hatney, Mr. Holland, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Mason
0 no
2 abstaining -- Mr. Grantham, Mr. Smith
Mayor Deke Copenhaver asked for a sixth vote for a show of unanimous support for Mr. Mason. He was then elected 10-0.
Comments
Can anyone say double standard? Looks like the old gentleman's agreement is still in place, but just for whites. How did I know it would go this way? I must be psychic. Hang around a watch, it'll be the same with the school board president and VP thing too.
The commission can elect whomever they wish. That's what the system is for. However, abstaining to block out the mayor just seems wrong. An abstention should count as a no vote. Thanks for printing the vote per nomination.
What a joke! Mason running the city! A gentlemans agreement? Its the city playing a race card! As long as Augusta supports racial agreements they will have racial problems. Your merits should put you in office not your color! If two white guys can do a better job then so be it. If two purple guys can do better then so be it. Everything in Augusta is COLOR
Congrats, Mr. Mason! You are an excellent choice.
And who says racism is dead in Augusta? It's just one sided. Well it was fun to think that the commisioners would try to do whats right for everyone and not just what they think is right for them or a certain race.
Not unexpected...
Second highest user of A-RC Gas and the 2008 property tax on his residence was paid late. I hope he will bring more fiscal responsibility with him to the Mayor-Pro Tem position.
"Mr. Mason works in Fort Gordon's contract management department" so I hope that there is no conflict of interest.
Same Augusta different color. This just goes to prove that blacks can play the good ole boy game just as well as whites can. Nothing new to see here move along, move along.
This abstention issue just gripes me. It absolutely should be considered a no-vote but until someone stops this process of game-playing, Augusta will continue to look like a bunch of dumb hicks and not like the modern, 2nd-to-largest-Georgia city that it should be.
The only way they can change it, is for the commission to vote on it. Good luck with that. I say they get rid of the commission and just let the mayor do the job, and have a vice-mayor, or lieutenant mayor. Its so stupid. Especially when I hear about 'my people', as in 'whats in it for my people'. Just voting against someones idea because there isnt a 'bonus' for another district. I really hate augusta politics.
I think Alvin Mason is a good choice, especially if he's anything like his mom. She's amazing, I really like her. Anyway, this is a very positive sign. Congratulations!
unbelievable if the mayor were given total control.. the city would move forward... and there are the over 50 bunch who will till their dying day abort any attempt to change the colorful if not backward way of running this poor and dying city.
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