Beeville City Council chooses Jimbo over John Fulghum, who was appointed in April to replace Chesshir
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“What an incredible honor this is,” said Beeville’s new mayor, Santiago “Jimbo” Martinez Jr., Tuesday evening.
“And I humbly accept your nomination to be the 28th mayor for the City of Beeville.”
Minutes earlier, Martinez was elected to the position by a unanimous vote and without any other nominations being made.
Martinez, who has represented Ward 2 for three years, replaced Ward 3 City Councilman John Fulghum, who had held the position since former Mayor Kenneth Chesshir resigned the position on April 24.
“I want to thank Councilman Fulghum for holding the city’s course these past few weeks,” Martinez said.
“John, with your 17 years of public service, I look forward to your knowledge and expertise in city government and your continued service to the citizens of Ward 3.”
“To the newest member on the Beeville City Council, Libby Spires, welcome aboard,” Martinez said. “Your views and recommendations will be a welcomed breath of fresh air.”
“Councilman Mike Scotten, congratulations and welcome back for another two-year term. Mike, we’ve worked well together in the past and I look forward to building off that in the future.”
Scotten had nominated Martinez for the position and Spires seconded the nomination as Martinez’s family members and supporters sat nearby in the audience.
Family members included Martinez’s wife, Tristen, children, Alisha, Ryann Olivia and Trey, and parents, former County Judge Jimmy Martinez and his wife, Dora.
Martinez went on to thank Ward 4 Councilman David Carabajal.
“Your ability to do research has been impressive, to say the least. I look forward to working with you and your continued service to the people of Ward 4.”
“One cannot help but notice the dramatic change in the makeup of this council over the past few years,” Martinez continued. “We are all here because we believe we can make a difference to our community, even if this means moving away from the past ways of doing business.”
“We must remember we have a responsibility to be responsive to all members of this city. They elected us to our positions and they will be our primary concern. The doors and halls of City Hall will be open to all members of this community and I will expect us all to be appropriately responsive.”
Martinez’s first order of business was to take nominations for the position of mayor pro tem. Carabajal, who had been elected to the position after Fulghum was elected mayor, nominated Scotten, who then was elected by acclamation.
Scotten thanked the citizens of Ward 1 for their vote of confidence in his abilities to serve as their representative and he said he considered his election an honor.
“To my opponent, Mrs. Granado, I thank you for running a clean and honest campaign and caring enough for this community to want to make a difference,” Scotten said.
“I would also like to thank Councilmen Fulghum, Carabajal, Martinez, former Councilman (Gerald) Arismendez and former Mayor (Kenneth) Chesshir. It has been my honor to serve our community alongside each and every one of you.”
“And to our newest council member, Mrs. Spires, it will be my honor to serve alongside you for the next two years as well.”
Earlier in the meeting, Chesshir spoke briefly before giving his seat at the council table to Spires.
“I always said that if someone came along who could do this job better, I’d step aside,” Chesshir said. He told those in the room that when Libby Spires came to him and said she would run, “I almost felt relief.”
“I know Libby will always do what’s right,” Chesshir said as he prepared to end 16 years on the City Council. “And if she doesn’t, she’ll fix it.”
“And I humbly accept your nomination to be the 28th mayor for the City of Beeville.”
Minutes earlier, Martinez was elected to the position by a unanimous vote and without any other nominations being made.
Martinez, who has represented Ward 2 for three years, replaced Ward 3 City Councilman John Fulghum, who had held the position since former Mayor Kenneth Chesshir resigned the position on April 24.
“I want to thank Councilman Fulghum for holding the city’s course these past few weeks,” Martinez said.
“John, with your 17 years of public service, I look forward to your knowledge and expertise in city government and your continued service to the citizens of Ward 3.”
“To the newest member on the Beeville City Council, Libby Spires, welcome aboard,” Martinez said. “Your views and recommendations will be a welcomed breath of fresh air.”
“Councilman Mike Scotten, congratulations and welcome back for another two-year term. Mike, we’ve worked well together in the past and I look forward to building off that in the future.”
Scotten had nominated Martinez for the position and Spires seconded the nomination as Martinez’s family members and supporters sat nearby in the audience.
Family members included Martinez’s wife, Tristen, children, Alisha, Ryann Olivia and Trey, and parents, former County Judge Jimmy Martinez and his wife, Dora.
Martinez went on to thank Ward 4 Councilman David Carabajal.
“Your ability to do research has been impressive, to say the least. I look forward to working with you and your continued service to the people of Ward 4.”
“One cannot help but notice the dramatic change in the makeup of this council over the past few years,” Martinez continued. “We are all here because we believe we can make a difference to our community, even if this means moving away from the past ways of doing business.”
“We must remember we have a responsibility to be responsive to all members of this city. They elected us to our positions and they will be our primary concern. The doors and halls of City Hall will be open to all members of this community and I will expect us all to be appropriately responsive.”
Martinez’s first order of business was to take nominations for the position of mayor pro tem. Carabajal, who had been elected to the position after Fulghum was elected mayor, nominated Scotten, who then was elected by acclamation.
Scotten thanked the citizens of Ward 1 for their vote of confidence in his abilities to serve as their representative and he said he considered his election an honor.
“To my opponent, Mrs. Granado, I thank you for running a clean and honest campaign and caring enough for this community to want to make a difference,” Scotten said.
“I would also like to thank Councilmen Fulghum, Carabajal, Martinez, former Councilman (Gerald) Arismendez and former Mayor (Kenneth) Chesshir. It has been my honor to serve our community alongside each and every one of you.”
“And to our newest council member, Mrs. Spires, it will be my honor to serve alongside you for the next two years as well.”
Earlier in the meeting, Chesshir spoke briefly before giving his seat at the council table to Spires.
“I always said that if someone came along who could do this job better, I’d step aside,” Chesshir said. He told those in the room that when Libby Spires came to him and said she would run, “I almost felt relief.”
“I know Libby will always do what’s right,” Chesshir said as he prepared to end 16 years on the City Council. “And if she doesn’t, she’ll fix it.”
I'm not knocking the new mayor. I'm sure he'll do a fine job. Congratulations to him.
I just feel it's time for the city leaders to step up and bring Beeville into the 21st cenury. You know, where people have the right to choose who they want as mayor. I guess they think the city of Beeville is incapable of making that decision.