Gipson Newly Appointed Mansfield Mayor

By Tammy Moore Teague
The Mansfield City Council voted last night to fill the vacated mayor’s seat. Mike Gipson, 63, was appointed in a 5 to 1 vote to finish out the remaining term of former Mayor Dr. Larry Austin.
Gipson is a 1972 graduate of Mansfield High School and has lived in Mansfield for 55 years. “I love Mansfield,” he said. “I love the community and I love the school.” Gipson will serve as mayor concurrent with his seat as Vice President on the Mansfield School Board. After laying out his work history and qualifications to the council, he concluded that there is a need for change in leadership.
The council went into executive session to discuss all the candidates including Gipson. Additional candidates included were alderman Dave Johnson and Ali Bryant.
A roll call vote was made with aldermen Sheri Hopkins, Beverly Lyons, Buddy Black, Dave Johnson and Georganna Mabry voting to appoint Gipson as interim mayor.  Rick McDaniel was the lone no vote. Gipson was sworn in immediately following the meeting and said “I wanted to stand up and show my community and the city council I was serious about being appointed as Mansfield Mayor.  That decision was supported by my love of community, my town and our schools. I’m red and white Mansfield Tiger to my bones and throughout my heart.”
His term will go through the end of December. In the general election in November voters will decide who will take office January 1, 2019.