Byrd Gets Civic Center Position

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis recently appointed Pastor Ike Byrd as the Director of the Monroe Civic Center. Pastor Byrd, who had previously been considered by Ellis for the position of Director of Community Affairs, was turned down by a 3-2 vote from the city council. The announcement of Byrd's new appointment was controversial from the start, as there was tension between the mayor and several city council members, particularly when it appeared the mayor was bypassing the council’s approval before officially appointing Byrd.

However, with Byrd’s new role as Civic Center Director—one of the divisi...