Jan Davis is Asheville’s new vice mayor following an organizational meeting today by City Council. The meeting also saw the swearing in of Bill Russell and a formal farewell to two-year termer Bryan Freeborn.
The rush to nominate and unanimous support of Davis in his new role led Mayor Terry Bellamy to remark, “I think it speaks very well when so many people want to nominate you.”
Davis said he wants to continue Council member Holly Jones’ initiative to encourage citizen activity in the city’s boards and commissions, and said he “just wants to be available for what needs to be done.”
The vice mayor presides over Council meetings when the mayor is absent.
— Brian Postelle, staff writer
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Good choice. I like Jan Davis. I buy my tired from him. He is a native Ashevillian. My kind of guy.
I didn’t realize that voting for Davis was voting for the seat of vice-mayor. In the past election I was voting for city council. Perhaps that should be more clear the next election.
He strikes me as a decent middle of the road kind of guy. … Did Cookie Freeman cry? Did Ms Cape huff and puff and sigh heavily into the microphone? Asheville politics is a hoot.
Faery, Davis ran for a Council seat. Once there, he was elected by his Council peers to be Vice Major. Poor comradette Holly lost her “progressive” majority so she is out as V.M. And you are right travelah. Those meetings are a hoot, especially when one of the fauxprogs sighs that not enough progress is being made building one of her unnecessary park projects. Oh the harshness of political life! :)