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In the City Council chambers, Griffith was sworn into his new position in front of an audience of well-wishers, family, friends, current and former elected city officials, as he took over a position in a city in need of strong leadership.
Griffith, who has served on the City Council on two separate occasions, is the vice chair of the Mount Vernon Planning Board. He has extensive experience consulting with Fortune 50 companies and has been a positive force on the council since winning his seat back in 2013.
“We have about 70,000 people that we take care of and make decisions for, and those decisions are hard,” Griffith said. “People are struggling out there, and we’re confronted with very hard decisions to make for them. Even when we make the right decision, it’s still wrong for too many people.”
An active member of the community, Griffith actively attends First United Methodist Church and volunteers as part of the Mount Vernon NAACP, the city’s Youth Community Outreach Program, Mount Vernon Day Care Center and the All Island Association.
“This is our city, and it’s a great city, and we want to keep it that way,” the new City Council president added. “There are a lot of times that we have negative things to say about our city, not just outside, but people here in Mount Vernon, but we shouldn’t. These people need our help.”
Griffith was a unanimous appointment to the City Council in 2008, when he was chosen to fill a vacant seat. He unsuccessfully ran in city comptroller in 2009 before reclaiming his place on the council in the 2013 election.
“I’m back, I’m doing the best I can, and I’m going to bring every piece of experience I have to make this city better,” he said. “This is our city, and it’s a great city, and we want to keep it that way. We’re going to work together and make things right.”
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