BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. – The City of Bellefontaine Neighbors appointed a new mayor and board president on Saturday, one week after confusion surrounding the resignation of former mayor Dinah Tatman.
Sources tell FOX 2 that James W. Thomas Sr. has been appointed as mayor of Bellefontaine Neighbors, while Wesley Gillespie has been appointed as board president, following a board of aldermen nomination process Saturday afternoon.
Thomas will serve as mayor until either a special election is held or the current four-year term expires for the office in April 2027.
On Feb. 8, Tatman sent a letter explaining she would “take a step back,” and the board voted to accept her resignation, though Tatman initially claimed with that letter that she was not resigning. Now, a leadership change for the mayor’s office is in effect.
The switch came just a few months after an employee walkout and city shutdown.
This is a developing story. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.