Julie Thomas Named Council President

Photo: Regan McCarthy/ WFIU

Julie Thomas is the next president of the Monroe County Council.

The Monroe County Council members have elected their next president. Council member Julie Thomas will take the helm. Thomas says one of  the biggest issues she’ll be working on in 2011 is persisting budget short-falls as the county option income tax continues  to drop—a situation Thomas says, changes in the council’s meeting schedule will help members of the public to better monitor.

“We will have two general meetings with a meeting of the whole committee after the second meeting of the month…so it’s the second week and the fourth week, which is a different schedule, but I think it will be of real benefit to the public, because more of the meetings will be held in front of the public cameras and there’s much greater transparency which we all appreciate,” said Thomas.

Thomas says she expects the new job to require a significant time commitment.  Council member Vic Kelson will now serve as Vice President.