Pat Simpson was sworn in as Orange Beach's newest city council member on June 19 by Municipal Judge Michael A. Dasinger in council chambers with his wife, Claudia, and his son, Hunter, by his side.

Simpson filled the vacancy left by previous Place 3 Councilman Jerry Johnson, who resigned on June 2 to help care for his 14-year-old grandson who is awaiting heart transplant surgery. He was elected in 2012.

Simpson was nominated at last week's city council meeting on June 16 by Councilman Robert Stuart and received a 4-1 majority vote, with Mayor Tony Kennon being the lone "no" vote.

"Thanks to Ginger and Hunter Harrelson, and also Robert and Jeff, all you guys, for your trust in me, and asking me to do this, and I'll do what I can," Simpson said after the swearing-in ceremony.

All four fellow council members, Jeff Silvers, Robert Stuart, Jack Robertson and Ginger Harrelson, attended the ceremony. Kennon did not attend.

Simpson said his candidacy for the position was not something he considered until he was asked by council members, and even then he was hesitant, he said."I talked to Claudia, and then I talked to a lot of people, too, and I said, 'You know what? Maybe I'll rethink this and come into it.' Because I see what's going on and how much help we need in the city, and I'm just anxious to help them do anything I can."

Simpson and his family moved to Orange Beach about 20 years ago and partnered with his wife to create their realty company, Simpson Properties Group, in 2006. Prior to his appointment to council, he served on the Orange Beach planning commission since 2017. Simpson said his replacement for that position "will be announced at the appropriate time."

Before moving to the Alabama Gulf coast, he had a prominent career in TV production.

"I know this sounds cliché, but I hear the citizens of Orange Beach, I want to do what they think is right," Simpson said.

At the June 2 meeting, before Simpson was nominated, the mayor nominated Nelson Bauer, who previously served on the Orange Beach City School Board of Education and as the city's fire marshal. That nomination failed with a 2-3 vote, with Kennon and Robertson being the "yes" votes.

Also during that meeting, Silvers was appointed as mayor pro tempore, a leadership position formerly held by Johnson, in a 4-1 vote. Kennon again was the lone "no" vote.