O’Hara Wins

By Cathy Salustri

For the first time in a decade, Gulfport’s Ward IV has a new representative: Ian O’Hara. Christine Brown will keep her seat in Gulfport’s Ward II.

“I want to thank my wife for putting up with this nonsense,” O’Hara said from the stage at the North End Taphouse Tuesday night. He also thanked the Ward III Councilmember, Paul Ray, and Ray’s husband, Wes, then thanked everyone who supported him.

The crowd of revelers and well-wishers, including Christopher Butler-Jones, were in high spirits after O’Hara’s speech. Jones lost his bid for the Ward II seat to incumbent

Elections continued on page 8

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Gardening With Toffer

I thoroughly enjoyed Toffer’s column in this week’s Gabber . It was most informative and humorous. Long live the oaks of Gulfport… and the squirrels! Looking forward to her next column. –Susan Masztak, Gulfport

A Crime Scene

Thousands of dead bodies. The stench would sting the nose and lodge itself behind the throat. One could taste death. It was evident from the beginning that this crime was going to be complicated to solve. So many unanswered questions how? Why? And who? What could have led to these deaths? Different theories were thrown about by laymen and specialists alike. They were poisoned, they were asphyxiated, they were starved; all terrible ways to go. With piles of decomposing bodies in full sight, peo- ple went about their normal day. There seemed to be little uproar, no community organization to demand finding the cause, a cure. None of that seemed to be happening. Perhaps because the environment was so idyllic and people were able to shut their doors, their windows and their eyes.

How could the collective suffering of thousands, perhaps millions in all surrounding areas be met by a general apathy? Or was it jadedness? powerlessness? Weren’t these the same people who had suffered so much under COVID, another disease linked to the inability to breathe. They call it red tide. Does it have anything to do with the blood that lay on the hands of the collective polluters of the water, the ground, the air? How can I not be on the guilty side by becoming a do-nothinger? How much longer before the water evaporates into toxic air that could kill thousands, perhaps millions of us humans? –Claudine

Fle, Gulfport

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Gulfport Clerk Lesley DeMuth Will Retire Council Promotes Deputy Clerk

By Monroe Roark

Every meeting of the Gulfport City Council has an agenda item titled “City Clerk’s Report.” During the report, Gulfport City Clerk Lesley DeMuth can share any news from the Clerk’s office. The vast majority of the time, the DeMuth has nothing to report.

That was not the case at the Mar. 7 meeting. DeMuth announced publicly that she would retire, effective May 8. The ensuing discussion led to a council consensus regarding her successor.

DeMuth noted that a number of people at city hall already knew she didn’t want to work past the age of 62, so the announcement didn’t come as a complete surprise to everyone. She then pointed out that, while council could proceed as it wished, she had some suggestions.

“If you want to hear my recommendations, I know the workload and how to do a smooth transition in the clerk’s office,” she said.

Mayor Sam Henderson did not hesitate before replying, “I would like to hear your recommendations.”

DeMuth suggested promoting Deputy City Clerk Theresa Carrico to fill her role and then advertising for someone to step into the deputy position.

“Theresa has been with the city for five years, and by July she will have been in the clerk’s office for a year,” said DeMuth. “I think she is more than capable of serving the city in this capacity.”

She described how Carrico has been continuing her education since first joining the clerk’s office, attending relevant conferences and taking classes to lead up to the certifications required for whomever assumes DeMuth’s role on a permanent basis. DeMuth said this typically takes about three years from the first day on the job.

According to DeMuth, Carrico has already done a considerable amount of work with the Planning and Zoning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Site Plan Review Committee in addition to the City Council. DeMuth also praised Carrico’s “excellent” customer service skills.

“I really appreciate the time that she’s been here already,” said Henderson. “There is a certain amount of toughness you have to have to do that job, so I think she has that as well. Her experience with the city is what encourages me. I’d very much like to go with your recommendation.”

The City Clerk does not have to live in Gulfport. DeMuth, who served as city clerk in Gulfport from 1984 to 1998 and then returned to the post in 2009, said she has never lived inside city limits. DeMuth has also worked as city clerk in other municipalities.

The city clerk in Gulfport serves at the pleasure of the City Council by contract, the same as the city manager and city attorney. DeMuth’s contract required that she give 60 days’ notice should she decide to step down; this prompted her announcement at the Mar. 7 meeting. Councilmembers agreed this time span provides for a good transition period.

“It’s a charter position,” said City Manager Jim O’Reilly. “The council can make a decision at any given time if they want to do something different. There is not a need to advertise. You can make that determination yourself.”

City Attorney Andrew Salzman echoed that comment.

“All charter officers work directly for the board,” he said, “so it’s however the board chooses to hire.”

After hearing council consensus to promote Carrico to fill DeMuth’s post, Salzman recommended that he and O’Reilly be allowed to draft a contract which would be brought back to the council for approval.