The Benton Harbor City Commission has started a new year with some new faces on board and a new second in command.
Commissioners met Monday for the first time with newcomers Shaquille Turner and Diedre Fields now seated. Mayor Marcus Muhammad then moved to name Turner the new mayor pro tem. The motion was approved.
The mayor pro tem takes the mayor’s role at meetings when the mayor is not present. The position was previously held by Commissioner Duane Seats, who lost a reelection bid in November. Speaking after the vote Monday, Turner thanked all those who supported him in the election.
“I look forward to working with all the commissioners and city staff and city attorney and making sure our community is bigger and better and that God will continue to bless all of us,” Turner said.
New Commissioner Diedre Fields also thanked supporters.
“Looking forward to the transparency, accountability, and community inclusion, which will occur from us staying engaged and showing up like we did on tonight, whether it is one item on the agenda or multiple ones,” Fields said. “So I’m looking forward to collaboration and unity in regards to moving this community forward.”
Mayor Muhammad congratulated Turner for stepping up, noting the mayor may nominate a commissioner for pro tem, but the commission must support it. He also recalled that he once served as mayor pro tem when he was first elected.
Turner and Fields were sworn in last month along with reelected Commissioners Juanita Henry and Ethel Clark Griffin.
