In an emotion-filled meeting Thursday, the El Dorado City Council appointed a former city council candidate to fill the Ward 3, Position 2 seat, which was left vacant by the sudden death of council member Tony Henry last week.
Bishop George Calloway Jr. will be sworn in to complete the remainder of the unexpired term of former council member Kensel Spivey.
Henry had been filling out the term, which expires Dec. 31.
The Union County Democratic Party will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 to nominate a candidate to place on the November ballot for Ward 3, Position 2 seat.
The two-year term begins Jan. 1.
The meeting will be held at the UCDP headquarters, 116 E. Elm, the former site of Elm Street Bakery.
UCDP chairman and former city council member Matt Thomas said anyone who is interested in running for the position or making a nomination is encouraged to attend the meeting.
“We’re going to hear speeches and take nominations, and with a quorum vote, we will decide on who we want to nominate to place on the ballot,” Thomas said.
Henry had been appointed by the city council to fill out Spivey’s unexpired term when she stepped down in June because she was getting married and moving to another ward.
Henry previously served in the Ward 3, Position 2 seat from 2009 until 2014.
He vacated the position in an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2014 and was re-elected to the post during the May 22 preferential, Democratic primary.
Henry was to have begun his two-year, elected term in January.
Henry and Calloway faced each other in a special election in 2009 to fill a vacancy that was left when former Ward 3, Position 2 council member Jimmy Reed passed away.
Lola Moore was also a candidate in the three-way Democratic race, in which Henry emerged the victor.
Prior to the city council meeting being called to order Thursday — council member Willie McGhee, who holds the Ward 3, Position 1 seat — opened with a special prayer for Henry and his family.
McGhee grew emotional, leaving himself and many in the Council Chamber in tears.
He remembered Henry as a “brother who cared about his community, who cared about people and who wanted to give something back.”
Later in the meeting, McGhee again choked up with emotion as he implored the council and the community to remember Henry and his family.
“Mr. Henry was a pillar of this community … We can’t replace him … I don’t want us to forget him, just don’t push him aside because he deserved our respect,” McGhee said.
He then referred to a recent conversation he, Henry and Calloway had in Calloway’s front yard.
He said the trio was discussing how best to help a member of St. James Baptist Church, where Calloway serves as pastor, when Calloway and Henry became engrossed in a passionate debate about the matter.
McGhee noted that Calloway and Henry had worked out “some friction” that had arisen between them during the special election in 2009.
“Having said that, I recommend that we appoint George Calloway to fill out the term that Mr. Henry was filling out for M(r)s. Spivey,” McGhee said.
The motion was unanimously approved, and council member Judy Ward thanked Calloway for agreeing to take the position.
Calloway is also a member of the El Dorado Works Board, which administers the city’s 1-cent sales tax for economic development.
Breaking down into tears, Mayor Frank Hash reminded the crowd that Henry’s funeral service, is scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium and that a reception will follow.
Hash also recognized one of Henry’s family members, who was in the audience, and called on McGhee to say another prayer.
McGhee also recognized city Code Enforcement Officer Kirby Craig, who is experiencing health problems.
Hash said Craig will have to undergo a heart bypass surgery.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.