Matthew Staton raises his right hand and takes his oath of office on Wednesday, Dec. 1. (Cory Spiers/Staff)
The newest Bakersville Town Council is official.
The newly-elected council members and Mayor Charles “Chuck” Vines took their oaths of office on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in Town Hall. Clerk of Court Janet Cook administered the oaths. Each man placed their left hand on the Bible, raised their right and repeated the oath that compels them to uphold the Constitution and laws within their official capacities.
Vines took his oath before re-elected council member Charles Nash and newly-elected Matthew Staton took theirs. Council member Andy Palmer was on hand to support his colleagues.
“I feel like we have a productive council willing to help move Bakersville forward,” Vines said. “Thank you to all who got out and voted for the candidate of their choice.”
The council then posed for their first group photo together. Vines, Palmer, Nash and Staton were joined by Town Clerk Kelli Beam.
Staton, a Mitchell High graduate, finished as the top vote-getter in the Bakersville Town Council race, amassing 27 votes (39.71 percent). Nash earned 22 votes (32.35 percent).
Staton and Nash edged out incumbent Jordon Baker (19 votes, 27.94 percent) who was elected in the November 2017 municipal election, finishing as the top vote-getter that year with 72 votes (39.13 percent).
Vines ran unopposed and racked up 30 votes. There were two miscellaneous votes cast.