In a show of City Council solidarity, Vice President Bill Bishop was elected president and member Bill Gulliford was elected vice president without opposition Tuesday for the 2012-13 year that begins July 1.
Both candidates were the only ones nominated and were elected in a vote of 18-0, with Council member Reggie Brown excused.
Bishop, a second-term Council member, was nominated by member Clay Yarborough and seconded by member Greg Anderson.
Bishop thanked his colleagues for their support and said he would not let them down in the busy year ahead.
“We will all need to do it together, but it’s going to be a wild and crazy ride and I think we’re going to have fun doing it and I think the city is going to be better off for it,” Bishop said.
He said he would try to help his colleagues accomplish their goals and also be a good steward of the presidency.
Gulliford, in his first term, was nominated by member Lori Boyer and seconded by member Ray Holt.
Holt and Yarborough had sought the vice presidency but withdrew before the vote.
Gulliford recognized both during his speech for being “true gentlemen” in the process and said he would work over the next couple of months to strengthen trust in him.
He said he would emphasize the importance of the Council and its role in representing constituents.
“I think sometimes we don’t stress that enough,” Gulliford said.
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