Log in Newsletter

Fayetteville City Council appoints new PWC commissioner

Police also release 2022 crime numbers during Monday’s City Council meeting

Posted

(Editor's note: This  report has been corrected to reflect the vote by council members on the PWC appointment.)

After months of disagreement, the Fayetteville City Council appointed former council member Chris Davis, in a runoff 6-4 vote, as a member of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission.

The appointment came during the City Council’s meeting Monday night. The council had failed to come to a majority agreement on the appointment since September.

Council members Shakeyla Ingram, D.J. Haire, Derrick Thompson, Johnny Dawkins and Courtney Banks-McLaughlin and Mayor Mitch Colvin voted in favor of appointing Davis.

Davis will replace current Commissioner Wade Fowler, whose term expired in September. The other commissioners on the four-member PWC are Ronna Garrett, Donald Porter and Evelyn Shaw.

Council member Mario Benavente, who voted against Davis’ appointment, said in an interview last week that he did not want a former politician on the utility’s board.

“It's supposed to engage the community,” Benavente said. “That means not the same old cast of characters. So, to put former City Council members on that board, to me, defeats the purpose of this entire process that we have.”

2022 crime numbers

In what was Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden’s first presentation to the City Council as head of the Police Department, he discussed 2022 crime numbers on Monday.

The department reported 44 homicides in 2022, four fewer than the year before. Aggravated assaults, however, increased by 4.5% in 2022, totaling 1,195.

Property crime increased by nearly 13% over 2021 with robbery, motor vehicle theft, larceny and burglary all increasing. The latter three increased by more than 15% each.

Your support for CityView helps ensure a more informed community. Donate today.

Ben Sessoms covers Fayetteville and education for CityView. He can be reached at bsessoms@cityviewnc.com.

Fayetteville, Chris Davis, Public Works Commission, crime, City Council

X