Piedmont Council names new council member

The Piedmont City Council has a new member.  The council  appointed resident Mark Harper Tuesday to fill former member Bill Baker’s seat.  Bakers seat became vacant early last month after the council appointed him mayor when former mayor, Rick Freeman, stepped down.  The council began seeking a candidate to fill the seat on Oct. 16, and had scheduled a vote on Nov. 19 to give members time to learn about each candidate. That changed Tuesday when Councilman Ben Keller made a motion to select a new member saying he wanted to move forward with the vote to help the city.  Harper, a 49-year-old Piedmont native, works as area circulation manager for The Birmingham News and said he is new to politics. He said he decided to seek the position at the urging of friends, and he hopes to work with the council to bring work and revenue to the city.  Harper also said he plans to be a one-term council member and added that he wouldn't have sought office during an election year. The remainder of his term will last about three years.