Century Appoints Two New Interim Council Members, Elects President And VP

January 3, 2023

The Town of Century started the new year with a holiday meeting Monday night to appoint two new interim members to the town council and swear in a reelected member.

Sandra McMurray Jackson was sworn in for another term after running unopposed. She was first elected to the council in 2010.

Two other council seats were open as of Monday night after no one ran for them during last year’s elections. The town appointed two members that will serve temporarily until a special election is held in about 60 days for permanent members.

Jackson nominated Eddie Hammond for a seat, but that motion died to a lack of second.

The interim seats were then filled on 3-0 votes for Shelisa McCall Abraham for Seat 3 and Alicia Johnson for Seat 4. Abraham was nominated by council member Dynette Lewis, and Johnson was nominated by council member Luis Gomez.

Abraham is currently the president of the Century Area Chamber of Commerce and has spent about 30 years in the financial services industry. Johnson was Century’s water and wastewater superintendent until she resigned in March 2019 after several years with the town.

Abraham was sworn into office Monday night. Johnson was out of town and unable to attend the meeting; she will be sworn into office at the council’s next regular meeting on January 17.

The vote was unanimous as Gomez was named council president, and Lewis was named council vice president for the upcoming year.

The council meeting was held Monday night on a legal holiday because the town charter specifies that council members will be sworn in on the first Monday of January. There is no provision in the charter to reschedule the swearing-in ceremony if it falls on a holiday.

Pictured top: Shelisa Abraham (center) was sworn in Monday night as an interim member of the Century Town Council. Pictured below: Sandra McMurray Jackson (center), who was reelected with no opposition, was sworn in for a four-year term. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “Century Appoints Two New Interim Council Members, Elects President And VP”

  1. sam on January 5th, 2023 10:26 am

    Really? just close the town down. geeeez.

  2. Shirl on January 4th, 2023 2:38 pm

    Someone needs to teach people how to dress,

  3. steve on January 4th, 2023 5:02 am

    You dress for success. This phoning it in about caring for the city has to stop. Put some EDUCATED people in office that know how to run a city and what can and cann’t be done. The people up there now may have seen how it was done at one time but there are a lot of fundamentals missing here as things have slowing faded down to this mess.
    Clean slate with people that WANT better for their community and show up ready to work, not ready for a trip to walmart.

  4. Citizen on January 4th, 2023 1:34 am

    Good to get people in those seats
    Gotta love a Hendrix fan.

  5. Corporate-Rebel on January 3rd, 2023 10:33 pm

    If the shirt-wearer knew she was being appointed or could be appointed she should have dressed with respect for the office.If she’s going to dress as if she doesn’t respect the office no one else will. This is part
    Of the problem in Century. Stand up to Gomez and sweep city hall clean at the ballot box.

  6. Eddie Hammond on January 3rd, 2023 8:33 pm

    Well it seems the council does not want someone that will work for the betterment of the town. I was promised an appointment to one of those seats.But I spoke up in a meeting and it angered Mr. Gomez
    So he decided not to support me. Now I am sadden by this I was hoping to work and try to make a difference in the town of century.The infrastructure of out town is failing there is a bridge that’s been closed now for there years no one seems to care.The only thing I can do now is run for office in March. And I intend to do so if I’m elected I promise to work for all the citizens in century

  7. Citizen on January 3rd, 2023 7:49 pm

    There are two additional comments I would like to make. First, I would like to say to Eddie Hammond; just because you were not picked for one of the vacant seats, please do not let that deter you from seeking a seat on the council. We need someone like you on the council. And secondly, the post about the shirt was not made by me.

  8. Citizen on January 3rd, 2023 5:19 pm

    What a disgrace to wear something like that to a swearing in ceremony. Hope this is no sig thgn of things to come

  9. Citizen on January 3rd, 2023 2:35 pm

    As a citizen of Century, it always makes me sad whenever I see an article about the Town Council. It’s sad that we have elected officials who really doesn’t seem to care about Century. I don’t know what the plans are for the Carver Community Center, but I’m wondering why there hasn’t been any progress going forward with the renovations. Is there something that the citizens don’t know? When the funds were presented to Century by Gov. DeSantis it was stated that those funds couldn’t be used for anything other than what they were given for. Some people may feel that the building is not worth renovating, but I beg to differ for several reasons. First of all, it is a historical building. Second, this building has been a vital part of this community for years, until it fell in disrepair such as it is, and it once was the hub of this community. And third, we really need this building to be restored because this community have a great need for such a place. Forty years ago, this building was in great use. There were all kinds of activities available for our youth such as arts and crafts, playground/swings, games, ping pong, tutoring, basketball and even meals during the summer break. It would be an understatement to say that this was not appreciated by the parents and community. Our children need this building more than ever. Century really has nothing to offer this younger generation. Several community members have expressed a desire to start a mentorship for our young boys and girls, which is so desperately needed. I have always wanted a Boys and Girls club in this community. We need a place for services such as this. I pray that 2023 will be a year to do the right thing.

  10. Mr Benny on January 3rd, 2023 11:19 am

    Is she wearing flip flops to compliment the Jimi Hendrix
    Tshirt?
    Century will ultimately be remembered just as is The Edmund Fitzgerald. ON THE BOTTOM!

  11. SueB on January 3rd, 2023 9:25 am

    Inappropriate T-shirt to be sworn in as a counsel member.

  12. RaD on January 3rd, 2023 9:14 am

    I sense it is going to be another great year for North Escambia reporting on the “City of Century” government. Some of the best free entertainment available on-line.

  13. Oversight on January 3rd, 2023 8:39 am

    The circus has new clowns, and surely the town council will continue to provide plenty of entertainment.