Hinton Sworn In As Northport Mayor; Hogg Re-Elected Council President

NORTHPORT, AL — Northport Mayor John Hinton was officially sworn in to office Tuesday after being elected City Council president in December and ascending to the office by default on New Year's Day.

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District 5 Councilman Jeff Hogg, who stepped down from the council presidency in order to avoid the line of succession for the mayor's office, was also unanimously re-elected City Council president in a special called meeting held after Hinton was sworn in.

To fill the role vacated by Hinton as council president pro tem, District 1 Councilwoman Christy Bobo was also unanimously elected by the Council to serve in the position.

"We have an excellent council ... I can truly say it's been an honor to work as a member of the council with them," Hinton said.

Hinton then touted accomplishments such as the financial condition of the city — namely thanks to city's the 1-cent sales tax implemented in 2019. Hinton also pointed to the success of the last three years, which has seen $19 million in tax revenue collected.

What's more, he said recently implemented employee pay raises spoke to the financial condition of the city and makes the city a more competitive employer.

Other accomplishments mentioned by Hinton include more than $1 million in education grants given out to schools within the Northport city limits and major land purchases that he said will prime the city for additional commercial growth.

"Let's get to work, because there is much, much left to do," Hinton said in closing.

As Patch previously reported, former Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon tendered his resignation in early November, with the intention of stepping down at the end of the calendar year.

Herndon claimed the decision was prompted by a lack of support on the Council to get a street renamed in front of his personal place of business, despite being warned by other city officials of unfavorable optics and a potential ethics violation if the Council were to move forward with the street renaming.

Hinton is a retired assistant superintendent of personnel and general services for the Tuscaloosa County School System and currently serves as minister of music at Northport Baptist Church.

He was first appointed to the City Council in January 2019 to fill a vacancy on the Council and later won his first full term in 2020.

As Patch previously reported, a vacancy will also need to be filled for the District 3 seat, with the remaining council members given 60 days to appoint a new representative from the district.

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