As many Sampson County towns welcome new board members and usher in shakeups to town government this month, the face of the City of Clinton’s leadership remains unchanged.
Earlier this week, Mayor Lew Starling and City Council members Neal Strickland and Jean Turlington all swore the oaths of office at the beginning of the Council’s regular December meeting after winning re-election to their posts last month in unopposed races.
The oaths of offices were administered by District Court Judge William B. Sutton Jr. and Starling, Strickland and Turlington took the oath together. Following the oaths, Council member Maxine Harris was again re-elected as the city’s mayor pro tem, a post she has held since Starling was first elected mayor in 2001.
“On behalf of the City Council, I want to thank you for the confidence you’ve placed in us,” said Starling. “This Council works very hard to do the people’s business. We try every day to make Clinton a better place to live and we will continue to do that on a daily basis.”
The Council also unanimously re-appointed Shawn Purvis and Tim Howard as the city’s manager and attorney, respectively. Starling said all city officials were there to serve the people and welcomed all feedback as the city moves forward.
“If there is anything we can improve on, please let us know,” the mayor said, “but please know we are doing our best to make this city a better place to live. Thank you all very much.”
