3 JAN 07: ALL-WETHERINGTON
"I want to congratulate the twoest new members...." So said the new mayor of Columbus Tuesday, during the inauguration of himself and new Councilors Tuesday. Maybe that's why even the program had lines calling it a "Swearing In Ceremony" - much easier to say.
Jim Wetherington took the oath of office as Columbus's 67th mayor Tuesday afternoon -- and was the Government Center's Plaza Level ever swarming with police officers! You certainly can tell when the Fraternal Order of Police candidate wins an election.
(In fact, we hope those of you who speeding on Macon Road around midday Tuesday enjoyed it. With a "law-and-order" mayor now in charge, you can't expect that to last much longer.)
Jim Wetherington gave a 12-minute, mostly read-from-a-script speech, in which he outlined his "vision for the community." He wants the city to be more aggressive in finding problems. He wants the government to be more compassion in how it operates. And we all want the police department NOT to get those two things mixed up.
The new mayor began by thanking his campaign volunteers and promising, "I will never forget you." OK, you Government Center "sources" - be on the lookout for ticket fixing.
I didn't see former Mayor Bob Poydasheff at the ceremony, but Jim Wetherington gave credit to him. "Mayor Poydasheff's tracks are all over Columbus, Georgia," the new mayor said - which is interesting, because I only knew about that one street in a new subdivision.
Jim Wetherington offered a question for Columbus citizens to use, in evaluating his administration. "Do you trust your city government?" Some people would answer that they trust it about as far as a prison inmate can throw trash in a dumpster....
"We need to be more aggressive about finding and fixing problems," Jim Wetherington told about 300 people at the ceremony. From a "law and order" mayor, this sounds serious - to find the problem before the newspaper, TV stations and bloggers do.
On the other hand, the new mayor said Columbus city government needs to be "more compassionate in how we operate." The five new Councilors set a great example of this, by hugging each other after taking the oath of office. [True!]
Jim Wetherington confirmed Columbus still has 22 openings in the police force. He promised to fill those vacancies, but advised city departments NOT to use personnel shortages as a "crutch." Well, the Columbus Health Department might qualify as an exception....
Jim Wetherington also said he hopes to be remembered as a mayor who "listened to the people." It's a rare day when an elected official uses his opening speech to begin writing his farewell address.
Jim Wetherington talked of his concern for the Public Library property, and improving Midtown and Baker Village. But he said nothing about the future of downtown or Columbus South in general - so maybe that's where the first police sweeps are planned.
It was also inauguration day for five Columbus Councilors. Two of them are newcomers Jerry Barnes and Mike Baker - and Barnes blew a couple of kisses from the stage as he stood to take the oath. As we say, it's nice to see the more compassionate government starting so early.
Jim Wetherington asked friend Cheryl Myers to be "mistress of ceremonies" for the inauguration. You probably remember her as former TV news anchor Cheryl Morgan - and she recalled they first met when Wetherington was police chief, and she was "a pesky underpaid television reporter." Things have changed since then, of course. Today's reporters are a bit less pesky.
(In a big surprise, Cheryl Myers has turned quite brunette in recent months. At least she was nonpartisan - with her hair neither red nor blue.)
After the inaugural remarks, one "wild card" remained for me in the ceremony. We noted here last week Pastor Wayne Baker was asked to give the benediction - and to my surprise, he gave the sort of benediction you'd expect at the end of a Methodist church service. He did NOT pray for Sheriff's Deputies to be slower in drawing their weapons.
Before taking office, Jim Wetherington gave an "entry interview" to WRCG's TalkLine. Robbie Watson called him "Mayor" several times - leaving me to wonder if there was some secret ceremony at a Broadway nightclub early Monday, which no one else knew about.
The new mayor told WRCG he ran for office in part because "I tried retirement, and I didn't like it." Jim Wetherington even thanked his wife Shirley during his inaugural remarks for enduring his "detours from retirement." I won't be surprised if this former police chief winds up his years as a private investigator.
A ceremony scheduled for 45 minutes was over in 30, perhaps because it was a chilly and breezy day outside the Government Center. The midday sun was blocked by the main tower, so the north plaza was in the shade. Do you think that was done on purpose, to illustrate the impact of "landfill-gate?"
Anyone who's anyone in Columbus attended the inauguration. Among the people I saw were Columbus State University President Frank Brown, Chamber of Commerce President Mike Gaymon and potential Georgia NAACP President Edward DuBose. DuBose obviously was there to make sure no one uttered any racial slurs.
Incumbent Columbus Councilors also attended the ceremony. Gary Allen wore a suit, while Skip Henderson chose a sports jacket with an open collar - which helps you to spot which council member is liberal and which is conservative.
(I even spotted Pastor Prather Powell in the crowd - perhaps ready to take the District 5 council seat on the spot, if Mike Baker fell off the platform and had a concussion.)
The crowd then moved inside for a reception. Our first-ever blog entry was about Bob Poydasheff's Trade Center reception with all sorts of treats, big round tables and a jazz band. [6 Jan 03] Jim Wetherington's event was inside the Government Center's Plaza Level, with singers from Northside High School -- and people who found seats at only a few tables settled for chicken salad sandwiches.
The Northside chorus brought a boom-box for accompaniment - which was quite a change from my high school and college choir days, when a piano was always at events like this. You had to assume it was in tune sometimes, but at least it was there....
(The chorus at one point sang Waylon Jennings's "Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" - and I told Mike Gaymon it was "classic music of the 20th-century." He agreed.)
The reception also allowed me to meet Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters and his new wife, Kim. For some odd reason, so far MTV has NOT signed them to star in the next edition of "Newlyweds."
Your blog was first to confirm the wedding of Bobby Peters to a computer expert at Columbus State University [26 Nov 06]. The judge joked his bride has been trying to take my blog down ever since. This former attorney should realize it's HIS profession which could be more successful at doing this - through lawsuits.
So how did Bobby and Kim Peters meet? The judge revealed she was an interpreter in a court case he had. Don't they say something about love having a language all its own?
I left the Government Center at about 1:10 p.m., and a work crew had removed almost all the chairs set up on the outdoor Plaza Level for the inauguration. Maybe those inmates were given something for their effort. Not time off for good behavior -- but some pistachio cheese sandwiches from the reception.
Now let's walk home from the big event, and jot down some other news notes from Tuesday:
+ The Phenix City Police Chief warned Gonzoe's Sports Bar in the Phenix Plaza shopping center may be shut down, because of violations. The manager is trying to please the police, by imposing a minimum age of 25 -- so if the bar is shut down, he could turn it into a rent-a-car company.
(The manager of Gonzoe's Bar is named Jerry Barnes, but he's NOT the Jerry "Pops" Barnes who's now on Columbus Council. His sign makes that clear - he's "jazz and blues.")
+ St. Francis Hospital reported the use of "Safety Cab" over the holidays increased by 27 percent, compared with a year ago. This is one time when it's good for drunk drivers to be Yellow. Or Ranger, or City or....
+ Aflac promoted Paul Amos II to the title of President. Once again, the duck is a victim of nepotism....
+ Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban asked the University of Alabama for more time to consider a big contract proposal. When you're offered 40 million dollars and you have to "sleep on it," you must have a very good investment adviser.
+ Instant Message to Georgia running back Danny Ware: You didn't start at the end of the season, yet you're leaving college for the pro football draft?! I hope you enjoy playing in Canada....
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