William “Bill” Boykin was welcomed to the Greenville City Council after being sworn in Thursday morning in council chambers.
Mayor Errick D. Simmons and council persons Tasha Bailey-Banks, Al Brock, Louis Hawkins and James Wilson were at the special called meeting to welcome Boykin to the Ward 3 position.
“I’m excited and I’m looking forward to serving,” Boykin said. “I’m ready to work with everyone to move the city forward in these challenging economical times. As industry moves from brick and mortar to and leans more and more on advances in technology, we have a lot to learn.
“I desire to make improvements because this is my hometown and I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t care about the community,” he continued. “This is a great city and through our efforts we will continue to improve and see positive things.”
Well wishers joked with Boykin that it was members of Rotary Club that suggested he run for the office.
“They like to pick at me at my Rotary table and it is all in good fun, but the truth is being in politics is something I have thought of before,” Boykin said, noting his wife’s father and grandfather served Washington county for two decades combined on the board of supervisors.
“My grandfather was chancery clerk and circuit clerk for Sharky County and there are other members of my family who have held office,” Boykin said. “So politics are part of my family’s way because it stems from a servant’s attitude and wanting to make home a better place because we care.”
The council approved the recommendation from the Municipal Election Commission which verified Boykin, the sole person to apply for the position, met all qualifications to hold the seat.
The scheduled April 29 election was canceled and Boykin declared to be elected to the remainder of the term left vacant by the resignation of Carolyn Weathers effective March 31.
According to MCA § 23-15-857, “However, if 19 days before the date of the election only one person shall have qualified as a candidate, the governing authority, or remainder of the governing authority, shall dispense with the election and appoint that one candidate in lieu of an election.”
Weathers gave written notice of her resignation effective March 31 to the council during the March 5 meeting during a closed executive session.
