Government
City officials take office as new terms begin
New terms for the city’s elected officials began officially on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, with a Swearing-in Ceremony at the Bessemer Civic Center. The one-hour ceremony included the Oath of Office for Bessemer’s Mayor, City Council and members of the Bessemer Board of Education. The Bessemer Police and Fire Departments’ Honor Guard presented the colors and Ms. Krishaun Davis sang the National Anthem. The invocation and benediction were done by Pastor Victor Harkins of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Bessemer. Mr. Toraine Norris served as Master of Ceremony and offered a welcome. Mayor Kenneth Gulley was sworn-in for his third term by The Honorable Judge Aaron Killings. Newly elected District 1 councilman Jarvis Collier was administered the oath of office by Judge Killings, as was veteran District 6 councilman Jesse Matthews. New councilors Kimberly Alexander (District 2) and Latricia Crusoe (District 7) were sworn-in by the Honorable Judge U.W. Clemon. Pastor Harkins swore-in District 3 councilwoman Cynthia Donald for her second term in office, while the Honorable Judge Scott Roebuck administered the oath of office for District 4 councilwoman Donna Thigpen, who is entering her third term. The Reverend David Knight swore-in three-term District 5 councilman Ron Marshall. School board members Amos Rembert Jr. (District 1), Vera Eades (District 2), Renna Soles Scott (District 3), Samuel Morris (District 4), Jerome Cook (District 5) and Remeka Thompson (District 6) were administered the oath of office by the Honorable Judge Annetta Verin. The Reverend Louis Jones administered the oath of office for Lee Jones (District 7). Rembert, Cook, Thompson and Jones are new school board members. Mayor Gulley pledged to continue to work hard to continue the progress being made in the city, adding that Bessemer is the best city in America. “Just as we have worked hard the last 8 years, we pledge to you that we will continue to work hard to do the things necessary to move this city forward,” he said. 
