In her remarks following her appointment to the city’s top political post, Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis referenced a song from her favorite film, “The Lion King.”
It’s the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
‘Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
After more than 12 years on the Plant City Commission, Mathis now is seated at the center of the commission dais.
Mathis was selected June 10, by her fellow city commissioners as Plant City’s major for 2013-14.
“This is part of my circle, so to all of you, thank you,” Mathis said of her appointment. “Everything happens for a reason, and everything happens in its due time. It’s been 12-and-a-half years, but I’ve made it.”
Mathis served as vice mayor under outgoing Mayor Mike Sparkman in 2012-13. She is just the second female to serve as Plant City’s mayor. The first, Sadye Gibbs Martin, served as mayor for five terms.
“This (Plant City) is a place that has educated me in the school system. This is the place where I married my wonderful husband. This is a place where my parents lived and raised me, and I just want to say thank you, and I am so grateful.”
Mathis also thanked her husband, Tony, her mother, and her late father, Willie Thomas Jr., who used to watch her at City Commission meetings from the back of the Sadye Gibbs Martin Auditorium.
“He would have been sitting right there or standing right behind me, and I know he is somewhere, smiling,” she said. “He was my mentor, he was my dad, he was my friend.”
Mathis’ fellow commissioners had high praise for her selection.
“I know you’ll give it 100%,” said Rick Lott, whom Mathis selected as her vice mayor. “I am looking forward to the next year.”
Commissioner Bill Dodson agreed.
“I congratulate you, and I know as mayor, you will represent us well,” he said. “I know you’ll do a fine job.”
Mathis, 55, is an assistant principal at Marshall Middle School. As a history major with a minor in education, she always harbored a desire to serve her community. In her term, Mathis said she plans to continue her focus on code enforcement throughout the city and work to keep Plant City’s local government moving forward.
“I want to be a strong leader and continue that consistency,” she said. “I look forward to working closely with the city manager and making sure the city runs smoothly on a daily basis.”
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• Commissioner Billy Keel took the oath of office for his first term on the City Commissioner. Previously, he served as an interim commissioner He previously was serving the remainder of former Commissioner Dan Raulerson’s term.
• Commissioner Rick Lott also took the oath for his next term on the commission.
• The commission approved the purchase of one one-and-one-half-ton pickup and one half-ton pickup from Bartow Ford. Total cost is $91,736.
• Commissioners approved the purchase of 10 rear-end-load refuse trucks from RDK Municipal Truck Center Inc. Total cost is $1,467,410.
• The commission scheduled a public hearing on an ordinance amending the Public Safety Employees Pension Plan. The hearing will be at 7:30 p.m. June 24, at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Auditorium of the Nettie Berry Draughon Municipal Building, 302 W. Reynolds St.
