Three new members joined the Fayetteville City Council on Monday, when calls for unity gave way to division during a contentious vote for the board’s second in command.
The council initially voted 6-4 to appoint Derrick Thompson as mayor pro tem, drawing a mix of applause and boos from the audience and hinting at the sharp debates likely to define the next two years.
Councilman D.J. Haire moved to appoint Thompson during the meeting that followed a swearing-in ceremony at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium, and Deno Hondros seconded the motion.
But Hondros joined Lynne Greene and newly elected council members Shaun McMillan and Antonio Jones to vote against Thompson.
McMillan questioned whether other members could be considered for mayor pro tem, drawing applause from the audience. Without further discussion, Mayor Mitch Colvin announced Thompson’s appointment after the 6–4 vote.
But on Tuesday, the city issued a press release clarifying that the official tally was 7–3. City spokesperson Loren Bymer told CityView that Hondros had changed his vote after the meeting.
“I would call it an error,” Hondros told CityView. “It was hard to hear.”
The mayor pro tem is chosen by the council at the start of each term, a process shaped less by open debate than discreet discussions. Greene told CityView that council members “kind of knew how it was going to play out.”
Greene said she was troubled by Thompson’s insistence that he would serve primarily to back up Colvin, describing himself as “the vice president to the president” who would move the mayor’s agenda forward.
“I don’t want somebody who is not an independent thinker to be our mayor pro tem,” Greene said.
Her concerns tie back to a controversial dinner meeting the day before the November 4 election, when Thompson made a motion to reschedule a council work session until after the election.
That meeting had been expected to include a discussion about asking state auditor Dave Boliek’s office to conduct an audit of six incomplete construction projects. Greene, Hondros, and Malik Davis said they wanted an outside review of several troubled city projects—including the Hay Street downtown parking deck, which is in Davis’ district.
Critics said delaying the session shielded incumbents from scrutiny before voters went to the polls. Greene, Hondros, and Mario Benavente, who unsuccessfully challenged Colvin for the mayoral seat, told CityView they believed Thompson made the motion on behalf of Colvin.
Thompson did not respond to a request for comment.
Benavente, who often clashed with Colvin, previously told CityView that he expected either Thompson or Haire to be mayor pro tem because they would “rubber stamp anything on Mitch’s agenda.”
At one of Benavente’s last meetings as a council member, Colvin muted his microphone during debate.
On Monday night, Benavente voiced his disapproval of the vote. From the back of the room, he booed loudly, cupping his hands to amplify the sound.
Greene predicted the divide among the council would become a recurring pattern. “I have a feeling that over the next two years, you’re going to see a lot of six‑four votes,” she said before learning that Hondros had changed his vote.
Hondros told CityView he voted for Thompson because he was the only one who asked for his vote. He said everyone on the council is “capable” of the job.
“Is the level of service equal across the members?” he said. “Probably not.”
Greene said the minority bloc is tied by calls for transparency and accountability, adding that their shared goal is to prevent failed projects and ensure the council represents the community as a whole.
Hondros told CityView that while he aligns with Greene on many issues, although there are they do not agree. He hopes the council can align as a whole.
Colvin said he too supports transparency. “I plan to make full transparency one of my top priorities as well. I’m glad we share the same goal,” he said.” “In fact, that’s why I introduced the new requirement to ask all council members to be fully transparent on any business dealings with any local government entity.”
Colvin voted in favor of asking Boliek’s office to step in. Before that vote, he also updated the council on the status of his request for the Cumberland County district attorney to prosecute a contractor who bailed on four city projects and used a fake bonding company.
Before the mayor pro tem vote on Monday, council members and the mayor delivered five‑minute speeches that emphasized gratitude for their campaign teams and constituents, acknowledging the community’s support that brought them into office. Several credited faith and family for guiding their public service journeys.
Many highlighted the enduring influence of mentors, ancestors, and loyal supporters who stood by them through challenges and triumphs.
Haire, who has served as the District 4 council member for more than two decades,, called on “everyone working together” through a “collaborative effort” that makes the city thrive.
Thompson, who represents District 6, began another term. “Victory isn’t the finish line; victory is the foundation of what comes next. … We need to be forward thinking—five, 10 years from now—planning in a collaborative way, making precise, thoughtful, deliberate decisions.”
McMillan introduced the African principle of Ubuntu: “I am, because we are. That truth is that together, we are building and creating the foundation that will support every step we will take in the future.”
Perhaps Colvin’s closing remarks synthesized the evening’s spirit: “Our greatest asset in this city are the people. Our residents don’t expect us to be perfect. They expect us to make progress.”
He called for humility and collaboration. “Fayetteville needs to be united, not 10 different voices or views, but one council that is committed to serving the people who placed us here.”
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com.
Did you find this story useful or interesting? It was made possible by donations from readers like you to the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation so CityView can bring you more news and information like this.
