Watson hired as Monroe's City Manager

“I’m excited to see Mark Watson join our leadership team,” said Mayor Pro Tem Gary Anderson. “He brings a lot of experience and I think he will bring a lot of great ideas to the city.”

Council member Freddie Gordon spoke out against the hire. “I don’t have a problem necessarily with Mark Watson” Gordon said. “I have served with him on committees between the city and the county and I have known him for some while. My problem, was with the procedure. I’m a business man. I like to use proper business procedures and I don’t think we used it in this regard; we did not ask for applications.

“We don’t have any resumes. It’s simply not good business or good human resource policy in my opinion. It defies logic. What we have is an individual that was delivered to us by four council members.”

Gordon said: “If you are looking for fiscal or ethical responsibility, my colleagues seem not to practice it. The consequences of this rash, poorly thought out action will cost the city of Monroe more than $700,000 …”

Council member Lynn Keziah said: “I’ve been on this council for 41 years. I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs; the county made a bad mistake, freeing up a good man, somebody that I have heard nothing but positive comments about. I think we are lucky to have him. I look forward to his leadership.”

Monroe Mayor Marion Holloway has worked with Watson on economic development advisory and governing boards. “I have know Mark for many years,” Holloway said. “He thinks things through, no knee jerk reactions. He’s got a great reputation and we are looking forward to working with him.

“It’s a new page. Everybody will work together to make sure everything moves good for the city. Everyone of our council members, whether we voted for or not for, we will all be pulling for our city and the only way you can do that is have a good working relationship with the manager.”