Alexander Council Members take oath

In Arkansas, the first day of the new year following a General Election is the day local elected officials have the first opportunity to take their oath of office. On Sunday, January 1, 2023 five of the seven City of Alexander council members assembled at the Alexander Community Center #2 to be sworn-in.

The ceremony was officiated by Saline County District-12 Justice of the Peace J. R. Walters, seen in the foreground of the photo. Left to right are: Joe Pollard (Ward-1), Harold Timmerman (Ward-3), Tony Staton (Ward-3), Juanita Wilson (Ward-4), and Joy Gray (Ward-2).

Of the five, Wilson was the only one with a challenger, April Cotton, in the November election. This is Staton’s first time to be seated on the council. The other four were incumbents during the election.

Besides Staton there will be two more new council members starting this next two-year term. Gina Thomas Littlejohn (Ward-2) and Angela Griffin (Ward-4) defeated incumbents Lonny Chapman and Jeffery Watson, respectively. They along with Alexander’s new Mayor, Crystal Herrmann, took their oaths at the Saline County Courthouse Sunday morning.

There is still a vacancy on the council for the Ward-1 Position-2 seat. The seat was declared vacant at the December council meeting due to the council member having moved to Little Rock. Anyone living in Ward-1 wanting to join the council should contact either city hall or a council member.