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Roy Pierce, appointed by fellow commissioners, will serve his eighth consecutive one-year term.
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2002
SAN ANTONIO -- Mayor Roy Pierce must be doing something right.
Fellow members of the San Antonio Commission on Tuesday elected Pierce mayor for his eighth consecutive one-year term. There were no other nominations and the vote was unanimous, except for Pierce, who abstained.
"I think Mr. Pierce has been doing a great job," Commissioner Heiskell Christmas said. "He's done a great job, and he's going to do a great job this year."
In San Antonio, voters elect commissioners, who select a mayor from their ranks.
Christmas followed up by nominating Commissioner Sharon Madden to return to her seat as mayor pro tem, a sort of second-in-command on the panel.
But Madden, after it appeared no one else would be nominated, stepped aside. She said she learned through experience and conferences that it's best if everyone takes a turn at the vice mayor spot.
Christmas, she said, should hold the office next.
Commissioner Dennis Phillips nominated Christmas, and he was unanimously appointed. Even Christmas voted.
"I'm not afraid to vote for myself," he said with a laugh.
Pierce, 52, has served on the board since 1993. Christmas, 39, was appointed to the board to fill a vacancy in February 2000 and was elected two months later. Both returned to the board this year, along with Commissioner Wendi Edwards, without facing a challenge.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners heard from land owner Ben Turner who wants to break a 9.7-acre parcel on the north end of town into 19 homesites. He said he expects to create a gated community, possibly starting as early as this fall, with homes he believes will attract families. The site, just south of San Antonio Elementary School, would be a good place for young families because children could walk to school, he said.
Commissioners also heard from neighbors concerned about the narrow Antonio Way, which borders the property. In the end, commissioners postponed a decision until next month, giving time for the city attorney to see if a compromise can be reached.