The early front-runner for the position was former Alderman Sarah Sterling (D-First Ward), who ran unsuccessfully in 2007 for Common Council President, losing to Rob Perry, the man she would replace. In discussions during the twenty-day window, it looked less and less likely that Sterling would be able to muster a majority. Concerned that the Council might not be able to reach an agreement, I put myself forward for the seat in an effort to avoid the stalemate. At roughly the same time, John Cody, a longtime Hudson activist who ran unsuccessfully for Supervisor in the First Ward in 2007, was put forward as well. Mr. Cody is not a member of any political party. Days of meetings, phone calls, along with some quiet (and not so quiet) diplomacy ensued. 

The procedure for the vote would be an up-or-down vote on a resolution for each candidate. The resolutions would be presented for a vote in the order that the candidates put themselves forward for the position. That put Sarah Sterling up first. Three aldermen—Carole Osterink (D-First Ward), Ellen Thurston (D-Third Ward), and Chris Wagoner (D-Third Ward)—who supported Sterling had each decided that if her appointment was defeated, they would also vote yes for Cody, thus ensuring that the Council would be able to reach a majority and fulfill its obligation and preventing the Mayor from making the appointment. Once it became clear that the Council could agree on someone, I took myself out of the running.

On the night of the special meeting, the meeting was called to order by Alderman Wanda Pertilla (D-Second Ward), who as Majority Leader was chairing the meeting. Because she was on a long-planned vacation, a statement from Sarah Sterling, outlining her credentials, accomplishments and goals for the future of the Common Council, was read aloud by the City Clerk. Then John Cody addressed the Council, speaking about his involvement in causes of importance to Hudson, his hopes for the Council, and his work, since 1982, on the the City’s LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Program).

First up was the resolution to appoint Sarah Sterling. Pertilla, as chair, started the roll call vote by voting yes. Then Abdus Miah (D-Second Ward), Osterink, Thurston, and Wagoner also voted in the affirmative. Voting no were Robert Donahue (D-Fifth Ward), Richard Goetz (R-Fifth Ward), Carrie Haddad (D-First Ward), Sheila Ramsey (D-Fourth Ward), and Elvie Tillman (D-Fourth Ward). The resolution to appoint Sterling was defeated.

Then came the resolution to appoint John Cody. Voting yes were Donahue, Goetz, Haddad, Osterink, Ramsey, Thurston, Tillman, and Wagoner. Voting no were Pertilla and Miah. The resolution carried.

After the vote, there was a strange period of quiet. No one moved or spoke for a bit. Pertilla finally broke the awkward silence by offering the gavel to the new Common Council President. Ramsey applauded her fellow Council members saying “how proud of us” she was.

Will 2009 be a new start for the Hudson Common Council with John Cody as Common Council President? This was certainly a good start. Congratulations to Cody and to the Council for a job well done.