Northport Welcomes Mayor Dale Phillips And New City Council

Community leaders from across West Alabama gathered in Northport on Monday night to witness the swearing-in of Mayor Dale Phillips and a largely new city council.

The ceremony was one focused on unity after years of strife between constituents and elected officials in Northport, and comes after a long and sometimes bitter campaign season.

In a show of that unity, the council voted to place the only two incumbents who won re-election to lead this term as president and pro tempore - Jamie Dykes was voted President, and Woodrow Washington was once again voted to the second-in-command pro temp seat.

Councilors Turnley Smith and Jaime Conger were sworn in after defeating incumbents seeking re-election, and Danny Higdon took the District 5 council seat unopposed.

Although Dykes and Washington have more experience than the others, they often voted on opposite sides of controversial issues during the last council term. After a 4-1 vote to make her council president, it was Dykes herself who moved to name Washington her backup.

Get our free mobile app

"Unity is an essential principle of public service. It must remain at the forefront of our work as elected officials," she said. "I recognize that the motion I am about to make may be met with opposition or criticism, but I feel compelled to do what I feel is right and in the best interest of this council and the citizens of Northport."

Dykes said during the last term, she was prevented from having a full voice on council committees and from effectively representing her constituents. As President, she said she would not do the same to Washington over their previous disagreements.

"It is now time for this council to exemplify unity, professionalism, and collaboration," Dykes said. "We may not always share the same opinions or approaches, but we can and we should commit to disagreeing respectfully and working together for the best interest of our city."

Her motion passed 3-2, with Higdon and Smith voting against Washington's appointment.

At the end of the meeting, the council and Mayor Phillips expressed enthusiasm about assuming their new roles.

"It's a win for the city to have such an outstanding group that will be working together. It's a new day in Northport, a new positive day, a new day of aggressive leadership that will lead us into the future in a way that this city will see growth it has never seen before," Phillips said. "Understand we're not always going to agree, but the great thing about this group, every one of them, I know that in their heart they are here to serve the city and the people of Northport. With that, we will achieve things that have never been seen here before."

The new council will hold a private executive session next week to be briefed on private matters that will affect them, such as ongoing or pending litigation and other issues that cannot yet be made public.

For more coverage of news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.