Council elects Livingston to serve as Chair; McBride as Vice Chair

Councilman Paul Livingston was re-elected Tuesday by Richland County Council to serve as its Chair during its first meeting of the year.

Council also elected Yvonne McBride as Vice Chair.

Livingston, who previously was elected as chair the start of both 2019 and 2020, has represented District 4 for more than 25 years. In his tenure on Council, he also served as chair from 2000 to 2002 and again from 2009 to 2011.

“Let me thank you for your vote of confidence. I do not take that for granted,” Livingston said. “I clearly understand the importance and significance of the role as chair and will continue to do the best job I can do.”

McBride was first elected to represent District 3 in 2016, and was sworn into office as a Councilmember in 2017. She was re-elected to serve a second term on Council in 2020.

The new Chair and Vice Chair will serve in the leadership roles for a Council that welcomes five newcomers elected last year. Derrek Pugh, District 2; Gretchen Barron, District 7; Overture Walker, District 8; Jesica Mackey, District 9; and Cheryl D. English, District 10, were publicly sworn into their new positions on Council during a series of swearing-in ceremonies in the Council Chambers on Tuesday.

“I attended the swearing-in ceremony today and I was so touched by the ceremony itself and the commitment from the new members,” McBride said. “I think that we have an awesome Council and I look forward to a very prosperous new year.”