The Boone Town Council Chambers was filled Tuesday night to witness the swearing in of a new mayor and town council members.
Former Town Councilman Andy Ball, who won by a large majority in the 2013 municipal election, took the oath of office to become Boone’s new mayor. Quint David and Jennifer Peña were sworn in as town council members for their first terms, while Rennie Brantz was sworn in for another term and was voted as as mayor pro tem by the town council.
“I’m very excited as a member of both the Town of Boone community and a member of the Appalachian community, as well, taking the oath of office tonight as the next mayor of Boone,” Ball said.
Former Mayor Loretta Clawson called the town council meeting to order for the last time. Clawson, who served as mayor for eight years, then sat in the audience as Ball led his first meeting as mayor.
“Andy has been a friend of mine for many years and I really believe he’s going to carry on the progressive tradition that we have going in the Town of Boone,” she said. “I could not be happier to turn it over to Andy tonight.”
Ball plans to act as a communicator between the town council members as well as to the Town of Boone. He said the access of information needs to improve for the citizens in both new and traditional forms of media.
“We’re just far behind in terms of making that information available and getting so it’s not five clicks away within a website,” Ball said. “You want to be able to get that information out there in front of people so they have the optimal opportunity to take advantage of it.”
Ball also plans on continuing the town’s communication with Appalachian State University, where he is a former student.
Ball’s vacant town council seat was filled by Fred Hay, a professor of Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University, through a unanimous vote from the town council. Hay has served for 14 years as a member of the Boone Board of Adjustment.
Ball’s term on town council had two more years left before he was sworn in as mayor.
Refreshments were held one hour before the ceremony as a way for attendees to meet the new leadership of the town.
By: Michael Bragg, Editor in Chief