Council splits 4-3, selects Trumble over Abu-Ghannam for mayor
As the new council's first order of business, it split 4-3 in selecting 5th Ward Councilor Danielle Trumble over 1st Ward Councilor Joe Abu-Ghannam as the city's mayor for the next year.
Brian Butcher was the lone nomination for deputy mayor and was supported unanimously.
While the mayor and deputy mayor roles are largely ceremonial as far as official duties, Tuesday's leadership selection is telling in that Trumble and Butcher were the vocal minority within council pushing against the hotly-debated camping ban adopted on a 4-3 vote in September and ultimately upheld by 78 votes in an April ballot question.
Abu-Ghannam entered the meeting as the sitting mayor and was nominated by Jenny Selin to remain in the position for another year. Trumble was nominated by Mark Downs as his first official act representing the city's 6th Ward.
Trumble received votes from new 2nd Ward Councilor Jodi Hollingshead, Downs, Butcher and herself. Abu-Ghannam supported his nomination, as did Selin and Louise Michael.
Tuesday marked the third consecutive year Trumble has been nominated for mayor. On July 11, 2023, council voted 5-2 for Selin over Trumble. On July 2, 2024, the body went 4-2 for Abu-Ghannam, with Butcher choosing not to participate after the needed four votes were secured for the 1st Ward councilor.
For additional insight into how the dynamics within council have changed in the past year due to clashes over the camping ban and split votes on issues like ward and boundary adjustments, consider that Michael nominated and backed Trumble for mayor in both 2023 and 2024, but lamented her selection Tuesday, saying, "I think we lost a really good mayor today."
Selin, who served the past year as deputy mayor after three consecutive years as mayor, called it "the flow of democracy."
"I just really have enjoyed being the deputy mayor and working with Joe Abu-Ghannam in the last year, and the effort that he's put into being even-handed and working with a council that was obviously divided on a few issues, and helped make Morgantown a better place, " she said. "And so, on to the next administration ; see how you all do, and I'm just very glad to be here."
For her part, Trumble said she plans to continue her work on behalf of the city, albeit in a new role.
Trumble said she'll be "working with staff and other council to hopefully move some things along and get some projects done."
In addition to Downs and Hollingshead, who were sworn in as part of their first meeting, Tuesday's session also marked the first for new City Manager Jamie Miller, who began her tenure with the city June 23.
"I wanted to start off just telling you all how fantastic the team has been in the last week-plus. Truly a dedicated group of professionals who I truly believe is wanting the best for Morgantown and is serving with their full heart and full service, " Miller said. "It's a pleasure to get to work alongside such a great group of people."
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