New Largo Vice Mayor, City Leaders Sworn In

Largo welcomed a new commissioner and appointed a vice mayor at a special meeting Nov. 13.

New City Commissioner James Robinson took the oath of office. He was elected on Nov. 6. Mayor Patricia Gerard and Commissioner Curtis Holmes also took the oath of office. Incumbents Gerard and Holmes were not opposed for re-election.

Commssioner Woody Brown is Largo's new Vice Mayor. Mayor Patricia Gerard recommended Brown for the post. He will serve a two-year term.

Due to recent city charter changes, Largo commissioners now serve four-year terms. This was done to save the city money by only having city elections when county elections are already being held. City commission elections are now held every other year at the same time as county elections. The cost of a stand-alone city election was $70,000 in 2010, according to city documents.

An unintended consequence of the changing of commission term lengths is the Largo vice mayor now serves for two years, instead of a more common one-year term. The Largo City charter states the vice mayor must be appointed at the same meeting when newly elected commissioners take the oath of office, and the vice mayor must serve until the next regular election. 

Outgoing Vice Mayor Harriet Crozier was recognized and thanked for her service, receiving a clock as a gift.