Mark Nickita Elected Birmingham Mayor at Commission Meeting

Monday night's Birmingham City Commission meeting featured a changing of the guard as former Mayor Pro Tem Mark Nickita was elected mayor for the upcoming year. George Dilgard was elected mayor pro tem.

"Ours is a city that I'm proud to have lived in for a quarter of a century," said Nickita, an architect who has served on the commission since 2009 and before that, on the city's Planning Board.

Nickita served as mayor pro tem for the past year under former mayor Gordon Rinschler, who was also re-elected to another term in last week's election. Birmingham commissioners elect a new mayor and mayor pro tem each fall.

"The commission has a lot to be proud of," Rinschler said at the meeting. "Birmingham has a lot to be proud of."

Nickita noted that his interest in public service began during his tenure on the Planning Board, his concerns for Birmingham's downtown and neighborhoods and his time helping to craft the city's 2016 plan.

"As a city, we have remained strong and we're moving forward," Nickita said.

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff nominated Dilgard, who has been on the commission since 2007 and before that on the Planning Board, for the position of mayor pro tem. "(Dilgard) has proven himself to be a loyal and dependable person," she said.

"The last four years have been successful and special," Dilgard said. "Let's keep a good thing going."