Melissa Bailey Photo
Ron Smith is sworn in by Rev. Boise Kimber.
Ron Smith kicked off his fifth term as city/town clerk with a call to end a racial imbalance in the city’s legislative wing.
“Never in history has there been an African-American president of the Board of Aldermen,” Smith remarked during his inaugural speech. Black aldermen have served as majority leader and president pro tempore, but Smith said “second is not good enough.”
Smith, who was reelected without opposition, made the remarks as he was sworn in along with the mayor and 30 aldermen in an inauguration ceremony Sunday at Career High School. Before becoming town clerk in 2003, Smith served on the Board of Aldermen for 10 years.
About half of the Board of Aldermen is African-American. Board presidents are elected by fellow aldermen at the first meeting of each two-year term.
Smith’s comments took some people by surprise, especially because there is no African-American candidate running for board president this year. The only candidate is Hill Alderman Jorge Perez, a veteran Latino lawmaker who was chosen unanimously in a straw poll at a Democratic caucus meeting last week. Hill Alderwoman Jackie James, who tried unsuccessfully in 2009 to become the board’s first black leader, said she does not plan to challenge Perez for the job.
James said she’ll be serving this term as president pro tempore. The election will be held on Tuesday, when the new Board of Aldermen meets for the first time.
Smith drew applause with another policy statement: “You want crime to go down? Put prayer back in schools.”