The Bellaire City Council on Monday thanked Councilman John Jeffery for six years of service to the city, and welcomed newly elected Councilwoman Mandy Nathan to fill his unexpired term.
“Probably his first major vote was on outsourcing the garbage,” said Mayor Cindy Siegel before handing Jeffery a red trucker hat and a toy garbage truck making car noises. “He’s going to be playing with it. Turn it off, John.”
Siegel and other council members said it’s been an honor serving with Jeffery because he’s been a diplomatic voice of reason on the Dias who voted his conscious. An example was the garbage outsourcing vote, which was a contentious issue at the time but Jeffery supported it regardless.
“I think it shows, whether you believe in the vote or not, that he’s a man of integrity,” Siegel said. “He stuck with what he believed in.”
City Manager Bernie Satterwhite gave Jeffery a Texas flag that had been flown above the Capitol in Austin in appreciation of his service in Bellaire. The city also gave him a clock engraved with a message of recognition for his time on the council.
“We really appreciate what you did over the last six years,” Satterwhite said.
“I truly have to say this has absolutely been a pleasure. Citizens, thank you for letting me serve you over the years. Staff, what an incredible team you have, Bernie,” Jeffery said. “Ya’ll are awesome.”
Nathan will serve the remainder of Jeffery’s term. In the November election, she won 1,629 votes compared to her opponents Jim Hotze with 609 votes and Scott Scheinthal with 741 votes.
Nathan was sworn in at the beginning of Monday’s council meeting and she began her job immediately afterwards. She participated in a historic vote to approve the city’s new Comprehensive Plan.
Nathan said during her campaign she wanted to help the city through the economic downturn, promote economic development and better enforce the city’s laws and ordinances.
“I know Mandy is going to do a great job in my spot,” Jeffery said.
