In what will most likely be his last year on Erie City Council, Democrat Mel Witherspoon has the gavel in his hands once again.
City Council, at its first meeting of the new year on Wednesday morning, unanimously elected Witherspoon, 80, to serve as the panel’s president in 2025.
Witherspoon’s colleague, Tyler Titus, was elected vice president.
“I appreciate the nomination for president,” said Witherspoon, who also told the Erie Times-News he will be stepping away from the seven-member panel in December.
‘Hand the baton to someone else’
Although Witherspoon’s third consecutive four-year City Council term ended in December 2023, he was appointed in January 2024 to the seat vacated by the January 2023 resignation of former Councilwoman Liz Allen.
That seat will be on the May primary ballot for a four-year term. But Witherspoon said he will not launch a campaign.
“It’s time to hand the baton to someone else,” Witherspoon said.