MONTICELLO – Gordon Jenkins has officially stepped down as mayor in the Village of Monticello following a state Appellate Court decision ordering his removal.
At Tuesday night’s village board meeting, Trustee Douglas Solomon was appointed by fellow trustees as interim deputy mayor.
Jenkins said although his time as mayor is now over, he will continue to attend meetings as a taxpayer and use his influence in the community to help in that capacity.
“I’ve been coming to these meetings before I was elected as trustee and before I was elected as mayor,” he said. “I’ve always been concerned about living in this community and I’ll always continue to be here and speaking up about what’s wrong about this village. I’m always going to be here.”
Solomon, who was village police chief in the past, said he is excited to serve the community as interim deputy mayor.
Monticello is undergoing major infrastructural changes, including two new annexations to the village and a possible USDA-funded water system project.
Solomon said he thinks the change in leadership will be a new beginning for the village.
“I think that Mr. Jenkins’ removal from office ends an era of chaos and unprofessionalism and I think moving forward here that things will be done in a professional, dignified and orderly manner,” said Solomon.
The village board decided not to hold a special election for mayor in June. The next scheduled regular election for a full term as mayor is 11 months from now, next March.
Solomon said he will run for mayor.
