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Outgoing Mayor Kincaid administers the oath to successor John Woods Tuesday night. With Mayor Woods are wife Diana and daughter Kristin. (Bill Giduz photo)

Davidson inaugurated new Mayor John Woods and a new Town Board Tuesday night in a Town Hall ceremony that included tearful send-offs to retiring Mayor Randy Kincaid and commissioners Bruce McMillen and Cary Johnston. In his farewell, Mayor Kincaid offered his own David Letterman-style “Top Ten List” of things he’ll miss about being Mayor of Davidson.

The new board also elected Commissioner Margo Williams as mayor pro-tem.

The outgoing board approved several minor items without discussion, including a budget amendment; a financing plan for purchase of the former Baptist church on Armour Street, which the town plans to lease to Davidson Community Players; a resolution to accept Westmoreland Road as a town street; and a resolution setting a public hearing Jan. 8 on a petition to annex 11308 Lauren Lane in the Royal Oaks subdivision.

As a standing-room only crowd packed the board room, Mayor Kincaid administered the oath of office to incoming Mayor Woods. And the 2007-2009 board was installed, with members Ms. Williams and Evan Webster (both incumbents) and newcomers Laurie Venzon, Brian Jenest and Bill Johnson.

HONORS FOR KINCAID

A long list of elected officials, town staff and residents thanked Mayor Kincaid for his service, which included 10 years as mayor and 18 years before that on the Town Board. Town Manager Leamon Brice presented Mayor Kincaid with a Davidson police badge, instructing him to use it when he finds himself stuck waiting in a crosswalk where drivers aren’t stopping for him.

Ms. Williams noted that Mayor Kincaid was a champion of walking, and announced that the Town Board had decided to name the new Greenway at the foot of South Street as the “Randall R. Kincaid Trail.” She and other town officials showed off a sign that will be hung at the trail entrance that reads “Dedicated to Mayor Kincaid, for his belief in the importance of a walk in the woods.”

Outgoing Mayor Kincaid (left) has a laugh with his successor, John Woods, at Tuesday’s meeting. (David Boraks photo)

Incoming Mayor Woods also praised his predecessor, saying, “I have worked with many chief executives in my career, and you lead the pack. And I would be remiss if I didn’t thank you for the huge shoes you have left me.”

Residents Jane and Bob Avinger presented Mayor Kincaid with an unexpected award: a citation from Gov. Mike Easley conferring on him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor.

Ms. Avinger, a former town commissioner, also read a lengthy tribute to Mayor Kincaid, in which she noted that “he has the gifts of mind to dissect thorny issues that we may face in public office, by studying and reflecting on all sides of an issue.”

“My husband claims that like most economists, he was born with too many hands – on the one hand there is X but on the other hand there is Y,” Ms. Avinger joked. “These multiple hands have enabled him to understand better the increasingly important role of municipal government in making better the lives of our citizens.”

TOP TEN LIST

Mayor Kincaid thanked citizens, saying, “I have thought for a long time about what I might say to thank you all for allowing me to have this position.”

He tried to find something appropriate from George Washington, but discovered that “as a writer, he’s strictly a C-minus.” He settled on a modern-day philosopher of sorts, drawing laughs when he said he had borrowed an idea from late-night talk show host and comedian David Letterman.

With apologies to Mr. Letterman, he read this list of things he said he would miss most about being mayor:

• TEN: Knowing that my grandchildren seem to think it’s pretty cool that their grandfather is mayor. (Don’t worry, I’ll think of something else cool to do.)
• NINE: Working with a superior staff, whose passion for the town and professionalism is unparalleled in my experience.
• EIGHT: Negotiating our way through the thicket of the law with the world’s best town attorney, Rick Kline, who always looks for ways to make it work instead of ways to make it not work.
• SEVEN: Sitting in my corner office, surrounded by lots of glass, so people could see me and drop in. Now, you all can still find me walking the street.
• SIX: Preaching sermonettes at the end of meetings.
• FIVE: Sharing policy stories with my sons about town issues and about all you eccentric Davidsonians.
• FOUR: Working with other officials in the county, towns and city. I’ve even grown to like some Republicans.
• THREE: Serving with these people (on the town board), Margo Williams, John Woods, Bruce McMillen, Evan Webster and Cary Johnston and (former commissioners) Dave Martin and Garfield Carr.
• TWO: Building a community by getting us out of our cars; fostering diversity through affordable housing; recognizing servants with the Burney Award; sharing green and open spaces; keeping the downtown viable; creating events that bring us together, and encouraging people to block traffic while they talk to each other through their car windows.
• And the NUMBER ONE thing I’ll miss about being mayor of Davidson: Having the wonderful opportunity to tell people when it’s time to sit down and be quiet.

“And that is what I will do,” Mayor Kincaid said.

RELATED COVERAGE

Dec. 11, “4-minute interview: Randy Kincaid,” listen to a short audio interview with Mayor Kincaid, including his thoughts on how the town has evolved, how elected officials’ jobs have changed (he no longer has to respond to calls about clogged sewer lines) and about what he sees as the big challenge facing the new board.

Dec. 7, “Town Board changes guard Tuesday”

Parks Director Steve Fraher (left), Commissioner Evan Webster and newly elected Mayor Pro-Tem Margo Williams show signs dedicating the Greenway to outgoing Mayor Kincaid. (Bill Giduz photo)

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