Article and pictures by Larry Oskin
Clermont held a special council meeting on Tuesday, November 17, to swear in the newly elected City Council Members.
Getting To Know The People You Elected
Clermont Mayor Tim Murry is a native Clermont resident, who graduated from Clermont High School in 1972. He is married to Kassier Kyler-Murry of Ocala and has three children. Murry attended Florida A&M University for two years prior to moving to Connecticut. He has Associates of Arts Degrees from Rose State College in Midwest City OK, Saint Leo College in Florida and The Community College of the Air Force. In addition, he has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management/Human Resources from Park College in Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Arizona, and notes he has never stopped learning.
In 1975, Murry joined the US Air Force where he served for nearly 23 years before retiring in 1998. After retiring he returned to Florida. In 1999, he started working for the US Postal Service in Clermont and remained there for 21 years. In 2001, he moved back to Clermont after purchasing a home in the same neighborhood he grew up in. Murry is one of the founders and current president of the non-profit organization Christian Men in Action that focus on mentoring of young men in our Clermont and South Lake area communities. With a high crime rate and drugs in the community, he hosted a series of Town Hall meetings that hundreds of residents attended to voice their issues and concerns to the Mayor, Chief of Police, and City Manager. Evaluating the comments and inputs during the Town Hall Meetings, Murry personally took on the community responsibility of successfully initiating and opening a Boys and Girls Club here in Clermont.
He presently serves on the Clermont Planning & Zoning Board, South Lake Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board, Lincoln Park Community Impact Committee, Vice-President of Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance and Vice-Chair of New Jacob’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Board of Trustees. He also served on Clermont’s Code Enforcement Board, Citizens Advisory Task Force for Community Development Block Grant, Chaired East Ridge Middle School Student Advisory Committee and as President of South Lake Democratic Club for six years. He is a member of Lake County Democratic Black Caucus, the South Lake Black Achievers, Veterans of Foreign Wars and he is a Florida Notary.
Murry’s campaign platform primarily involved three key directives. First: Help create affordable workforce housing to support local service industries, that is not a part of Section 8. Second: Help raise living wages for our working Clermont residents. Third: Make sure the residents remain protected and safe, by supporting police, sheriff, and fire departments.
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Timothy Bates was born in Birmingham, AL, and raised in the Orlando area. He and his wife moved to Clermont 17 years ago where they have raised their 2 children. Bates received a Bachelor’s’ Degree from the University of Alabama. He also holds a license as a Florida Realtor, a Certified Building Contractor, Home Inspector and has achieved certifications as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and Environmental Access Consultant.
Bates has been a very successful entrepreneur. He owns a medical equipment company that provides respiratory equipment to patients in their home as well as working as a consultant in the industry.
Timothy Bates is a current Clermont City Council member and has served as the Clermont Mayor-Pro-Tem. He has been on numerous boards, councils, and committees with the South Lake Chamber of Commerce, Lake County, Florida League of Cities, Florida Alliance for Home Care, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has served his church in the community. He has been a coach for the Clermont Girls’ Fast Pitch, Travel Teams, and South Lake Little League. He was awarded Advocate of the Year in the medical equipment industry by working with elected officials in Washington and Tallahassee for Seniors’ rights.
Bates notes that our residents are concerned with our local roads, traffic and workforce housing. He believes he and the city of Clermont have good relationships with Lake county and state officials but thinks Clermont needs to continue developing these relationships. Bates says that we must all lend support for our road maintenance improvements, overall traffic congestion and safety which is needed from the county and state in order to address these concerns. He noted that due to the COVID pandemic, there have been numerous layoffs and business closures, so the need for affordable housing is increasing in the city. Bates has supported the removal of some barriers that prevented WorkForce Housing but says there is more work that can be done, especially with the growth and expansion of south highway 27 towards the new Wellness Way area.
He shares that being re-elected will allow him the opportunity to finish the work he helped start with Clermont’s Master Plan.
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Michele Barnard Pines moved to Clermont in 1970 with her family. She graduated from Clermont High School. She is a mother of two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren. She says that she is truly blessed to still have her parents with her. Pines notes, “Clermont is a big part of who I am, how I was raised and the values instilled in me. I have remained in Central Florida my entire life and moved back to my hometown of Clermont three years ago. I remain committed to Clermont. My commitment is reflected in my actions and engagement over the past three years by attending Clermont City Council meetings, committee meetings, Planning & Zoning meetings and workshops.”
Michele said she understands and values the history of Clermont as well as the obstacles for moving forward with regards to development and infrastructure. She believes this history is an integral part of understanding the future of Clermont. She adds, “I believe a healthy relationship with Lake County will aid in finding solutions to our traffic and growth. I believe in our first responders and am in full support of their ongoing efforts to make Clermont the safest city possible.
In spite of the COVID Pandemic, Toni Bell-Rescoe said she couldn’t miss the swearing-in of the newly elected council members. She gushed with pride as Tim Murry and Michele Barnard Pines, her Clermont High School students, became mayor and council member.
Ebo Entsuah and Pamela Amerson are in a runoff election for Seat 4 in January.
Councilman Jim Purvis will be up for reelection in 2021.
