Copeland, Richardson keep top spots on Mobile City Council

Mobile City Council members re-elected Reggie Copeland and Fred Richardson to the positions of council president and vice president, respectively, at a Monday morning work session.

Copeland, who has served on the council since its inception 24 years ago, was chosen unanimously.

He said afterward that this would be his last term on the council. That drew a laugh from other council members, who had heard Copeland say that before.

Copeland said he is serving this term to honor the wishes of his wife, Betty, who died earlier this year. In four years, he said, he will not run for re-election so he can spend more time with his grandchildren.

"This is definitely my last term," he said. "I promise you."

Richardson received support from five of the seven council members. John Williams and Connie Hudson voted to install Hudson in the vice president position.

Hudson said it was a matter of diversity. In its 24 years of existence, the Mobile City Council has never had a female president or vice president.

"We talk about racial diversity all the time," Hudson said. "Gender diversity is just as important."

Richardson countered by saying that Hudson's District 6 was the area in need of gender diversity. In the council's 24 years of existence, there has never been a male representative elected from the west Mobile district.

"A man, Al Cheatham, ran this year. That would have brought about diversity, but he was slaughtered in the election," Richardson said.

Copeland, Richardson, William Carroll, Gina Gregory and Jermaine Burrell voted to keep Richardson as vice president.

The council also voted unanimously to keep Jim Rossler as the City Council attorney for four more years.

Following the work session, the council was officially sworn in. The council will hold its regular meeting today at 10:30 a.m. at the Government Plaza auditorium, followed by a ceremonial swearing-in at 5 p.m. at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.