Larry Spears Jr. officially became mayor of Orange Tuesday morning as friends and family cheered.
However, not everyone in the City Council Auditorium was enthusiastic. After the ceremonies, Spears’ opponent in the May 5 election talked about how he thinks city officials broke the city charter.
The council canvassed the votes before the oaths of office were given. Spears officially had 944 votes to 248 for Charles Ray Thomas.
Thomas (above) said his lawyer thinks Spears should have resigned from his at-large council seat when he filed to run for mayor in January. He thinks any city business conducted after Spears filed should be rescinded.
Spears’ At-Large Position 6 was filled Tuesday by Paul Burch (above). The city council called for an election to fill Spears’ seat because when he filed for mayor, the position became vacant, effective after a special election. Burch was the only person to file for the unexpired term.
Burch took the oath of office from Judge Jerry Pennington as his husband, Raul Burch, and his parents, June and Paul Burch watched.
At-Large District 1 Councilor Patrick Pullen, who also ran unopposed, took the oath for his second term. HIs wife, Theresa, and granddaughter Roselyn were with him.
During the short council meeting, the council voted to make Pullen (below) mayor pro tem.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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