WESTOVER — Annexation.
If you had to pick one word to sum up Dave Johnson’s 14-year tenure as mayor of Westover, that would be a pretty solid choice.
Westover City Attorney Tim Stranko actually picked two words, “transformational leadership.”
Under Johnson’s leadership, the city has annexed property including the Morgantown Mall, the Gateway and, more recently, a portion of the WestRidge development, dramatically expanding the city’s boundaries as well as its tax base.
Johnson presided over his final Westover City Council meeting on Tuesday. He’ll hand the gavel over to Mayor-elect Bob Lucci at the end of the month.
Lucci presented Johnson with a plaque recognizing the longtime mayor’s efforts to grow the city during Tuesday’s proceedings.
Cliff Sutherland, who continues to work with the city on the growing Gateway development, said that will ultimately be Johnson’s legacy.
“The accolades should really come for the economic impact you’re going to have on the community and the growth of the community in terms of millions of dollars,” Sutherland said. “I know it doesn’t look that big today, but it will. It’s going to generate a lot of opportunity down the road.”
Lucci and a new city council will convene for the first time July 5. That council will be comprised of newcomers Ali Jackson and Shawna Cross as well as Duane Tatar, Jeffrey Friend, Edie Viola and Steve Andryzcik.
Tuesday also marked the final meeting for councilors Gary Weber and Ralph Mullins, though Mullins hasn’t attended a meeting since an altercation with Johnson in late February.
“I’d like to say it’s been a real pleasure serving on council,” Weber said.
Johnson became emotional when responding to the well wishes from council and others.
“The future looks good for us. It really does. Gary and I, this is our last meeting, but the people who are going to fill these seats … I look forward to coming to the meetings and harassing everybody and giving [Lucci] some of what I’ve been getting,” Johnson said. “The city is heading in the right direction, for sure.”
He said he appreciated everyone who put their trust in him and the city of Westover over the years.
“For the last time,” Johnson said, exhaling sharply to compose himself, “Meeting adjourned.”
