John F. Floyd Commentary: Ford signals dynamic change in city government

When Connie and I lived in the United Kingdom, we watched a national television program on the British Broadcasting Company called “The Proms.” It was an eight-week summer presentation of daily orchestral classical music surrounded by other annual events. These concerts were held at the Royal Albert Hall in central London.

“The Last Night of the Proms” presents the concert in a lighter form with British patriotic music. One of the most patriotic and moving musical pieces is “Land of Hope and Glory,” followed by “Rule Brittania."

As the choral groups and “Prommers” sang the patriotic songs, one couldn’t help but be lifted into this spiritual world of “Land of Hope and Glory.” With the singing of these patriotic songs, the British remembered times in the past when the “Sun Never Set on the British Empire.”

This is the wonderful feeling I experienced when witnessing the inauguration and oath of office for Mayor Craig Ford and the seven Gadsden City Council members. The oath of offense was then administered to the seven members of the city’s Board of Education.

I came away from the inauguration with new and wonderful expectations for the future of Gadsden.

I have attended many functions in my 60-year career, but I have never attended a more organized and professional order of business.

The inauguration was held at The Venue at Coosa Landing. City Clerk Iva Nelson was responsible for the program and ran it beautifully.

Bishop Terry Jones gave the invocation; the Presentation and Posting of the Colors was done by the Gadsden City High School JROTC Color Guard; the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Kourtney Tillman, Gadsden State Community College’s Student Government Administration president; the National Anthem was sung beautifully by Gadsden City High School’s Concert Choir; and the benediction was presented by Pastor Kevin Rigby.

The audience also was mesmerized by the haunting sounds of “Prayer of Saint Francis” sung by the GCHS Concert Choir.

Then came the introduction of city, county, state and federal officials. Their remarks were thankfully short and to the point.

Mayor Ford then took the podium and made one simple promise: change was coming. This was like red meat to a constituency that is hungry for the new mayor’s vision for Gadsden. And according to the Nov. 6 edition of The Gadsden Times, he has already identified changes that appear in his vision.

I applaud his comment in The Times that he will move City Hall and seek a location that best suits the needs of Gadsden residents. The mayor will be looking at utilizing the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre and the old, but still useful Convention Hall. And he has identified a morale problem among city employees which he intends to correct.

To say Mayor Ford has hit the ground running is an understatement.

He also has surrounded himself with true professionals. His formidable team includes Tena King, successful businesswoman; Brett Johnson, a young man with vast experience in the political sector; Ruth Moffatt, who has led United Way of Etowah County; Rod Scott, a former state legislator; and John Moore, who has been regional sales director for Charter Communications, he has put together a formidable team.

Mayor Ford had this to say about city employees and the residents of Gadsden: “The people need some hope there. The people of Gadsden need hope. We’ve had leadership. It is time for new leadership.”

Amen to that.

There will be disappointments as Gadsden ascends from a “caretaker” administration into a dynamic form of government.

Mayor Ford talks of hope. Gadsden citizens have plenty of that. Now for the glory.

I personally think Gadsden will return to glory under Mayor Ford’s strong direction.

Once again, accolades to the directors of the inauguration and, especially, to Iva Nelson, city clerk.

John F. Floyd is a Gadsden native who graduated from Gadsden High School in 1954. He formerly was director of United Kingdom manufacturing, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., vice president of manufacturing and international operations, General Tire & Rubber Co., and director of manufacturing, Chrysler Corp. He can be reached at johnfloyd538@gmail.com. The opinions reflected are his own.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: John F. Floyd says Gadsden is in good hands with Ford as mayor