Goshen swears in new mayor, council
Published 10:00 pm Monday, November 3, 2008
It was a special moment for Jack Waller Monday at Goshen’s Town Hall.
With a tear in his eye, Waller accepted the oath as Goshen’s new mayor, and five others joined him.
Darren Jordan, Belinda Edwards and Carter Sanders aren’t all first-time council members, but they took their oath as new members Monday, along with returning councilmen Bill McMaster and Sammy Cope.
“We’ve got a good group, and hopefully, we’ll do it right,” Waller said.
Waller said he is looking forward to serving Goshen in the next four years.
“It’s an honor and a big responsibility, and we’re going to try to do the best we can and make Goshen a place people want to live,” Waller said. “I’m excited, and one of my first things will be to organize the Christmas parade.”
Other council members shared Waller’s excitement.
“It means a lot to be reelected,” said 4th-term member Cope. “There’s some more things we’d like to see done in the town of Goshen. We want this town to grow.”
McMaster, who is also a returning member, said he wants to continue what the previous council has already started to do.
“I want to continue doing good things for the town of Goshen, and keep things in the direction their headed,” McMaster said.
First-time council member Jordan said in office he will work to preserve Goshen at its roots.
“I have a four-month old that I have to try to preserve the small town atmosphere for her to grow up in,” Jordan said. “I just look forward to a lot of positive things and to represent everybody.”
Edwards wasn’t on the council last term, but she has served in office some years ago. Now, she is ready to be active for her community.
“I’ve lived in Goshen all my life, and I’m going to continue living here,” Edwards said. “It’s important for me to do something for the town.”
And for Sanders, who is returning after resigning half way through last term, he said he is honored.
“It’s an honor to be selected by my neighbors and family to serve, and we want to make Goshen a place where other people want to come to live,” Sanders said.
But before the new council took office, they didn’t do so without honoring those who last served.
“Malon, we appreciate the last four years,” said Waller to the former mayor Malon Johnson.
“I didn’t get everything I wanted to done, but I got a lot of it done,” Johnson said in reply.