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MULLINS, SC (WMBF) - The Mullins City Council voted Friday to temporarily suspend the mayor’s ceremonial privileges following a special meeting, as the council opens a formal investigation into the mayor.

The suspension bars Mayor Miko Pickett from acting as an official representative at events and from signing proclamations or contracts on behalf of the council.

All statutory privileges remain available to her during the investigation, including her right to vote in council meetings.

The council said the suspension was prompted by concerns over misinformation, public correspondence, and disobedience of ordinances.

District Three Councilmember Terry Davis was absent and did not vote. All other members present voted in favor of the investigation.

District Five Councilmember Malcolm Kitchen said, “We are a strong council, weak mayor form of government.”

Audience reaction during the brief meeting was mixed. Resident and 2024 mayoral candidate Pam Anderson, who lost to Pickett in that election, said she supported the council’s decision.

“It’s been a lot of division in our city that I have never seen before, and so I think they’re making the right steps,” Anderson said.

Mullins resident Pat Carmichael also agreed with the council’s move.

“And I think it was about time we had this meeting, that everyone can be on the same level and know what’s going on because we don’t, we don’t ever know what’s going on anymore, but now maybe we will,” Carmichael said.

Mayor Pickett was not present at the meeting due to a prior commitment, but family members attended.

Her son Darius Pickett said the suspension was unwarranted.

“A mayor has every right to do administrative work in her official position, so the whole thing to me is embarrassing. It’s frankly, it’s terrifying. It’s upsetting,” he said.

The mayor’s husband, Dominic Pickett, also pushed back on the council’s action.

“She’s not gonna let her legacy be destroyed by people that have been living in Mullins all their life and really only care about themselves and the people that are paying them to be on our accounts,” Pickett said.

At 4 p.m. Friday, Pickett held a press conference at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Mullins, saying she will not stop working to support the city during the suspension.

Pickett said she welcomes the investigation and that she intends to continue representing the people of Mullins.

“I’m just saying maybe its our time,” Pickett said. “This is now our time, so I’m too then. I’m ready to serve. I will never stop serving the city of Mullins.”

Pickett also addressed a potential change to Mullins’ municipal election schedule during the press conference.

Town elections currently take place in November of even years, but council members have discussed moving elections to April of odd years.

Pickett and other speakers at the conference voiced concerns about the proposed change.

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MULLINS, S.C. (WPDE) — Mullins Mayor Miko Pickett held a news conference Friday afternoon before a crowd of nearly 80 people at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on West James Street in Mullins.

Pickett talked about her fellow council members voting Friday morning to suspend her ceremonial procedures pending an investigation into whether she acted outside the scope of her authority as mayor.

RELATED: 'It's time to take action': Mullins council temporarily suspends some duties of mayor

The council members contend that in some cases, Pickett acts on her own as mayor, without the consent or authority of the full council.

"So what does that mean? They suspended my ability to represent the citizens as, as your spokesman. So that's what I do. I'm your mayor. You elected me. I go to parades. So, as an example, I was scheduled to be in the Black History Month parade in Florence tomorrow. I had to cancel the. I was also, I had brought a proclamation on the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson. I was invited to attend a private ceremony. On Monday, as well as to witness them coming in, and I was going to present a proclamation from the city of Mullins to the family, which would be with other mayors' proclamations. And we would have had our chance to be part of history that's been taken away, not from me, but from the citizens of Mullins. Now that's my job. My job, I travel all over the state to represent you. Now, the city council has a job too, right? So they can choose to not agree with me. They can do that. And the majority can vote and they can vote. And they could tie my hands. They don't have to have a good reason for. When I think about what does this mean for tomorrow, I really don't know. But what I do know is I will never stop. I will never stop advocating for you. I do know that change is never easy. But I also know that the people have the power. Ultimately, at the end of the day. So if you want me to have my ceremonial duties without somebody being able to vote them out on a whim, if you want me to, be able to make sure that our city is being run effectively and efficiently, then you can change the form of government," said Pickett.

Pickett also addressed the Mullins municipal elections. She said there's an effort to move the elections from November of even-numbered years to April of odd-numbered years.

Pickett added that the move is a coordinated effort that could disenfranchise citizens of Mullins and undermine the principles of free and fair elections.

She told the crows she has documented communications that highlight serious concerns regarding election integrity, transparency, and adherence to lawful procedure, but isn't sharing them at this time.

Florence City Councilwoman Lashonda Nesmith Jackson stood with Pickett to support her and talked about the impact of changing election dates.

"For the last 28 years, you guys have been used to going to the election box and casting your votes in November. If this shifts in April, all of a sudden, what's going to happen? We're going to see a decline in voter participation. Mullins just selected his first black mayor, and that was because of power, the people and participation. And if we take that away, where will we be from there? So I'm here to not agree with this. We have to do this in a just and fair manner. When we make changes like this, it has to go before the people. You all have to decide that this is what you want. These are elected positions. They are held by the people and they are for the people. And that's how democracy works. And we cannot change how democracy works. Anytime we want to," said Jackson.

Several members of the clergy prayed for Pickett that she would endure these tough times with strength and continue to fight to help her community.

MULLINS, S.C. (WPDE) — Five members of Mullins City Council Friday morning, suspended the ceremonial privileges of Mullins Mayor Miko Pickett pending an internal investigation into whether she acted beyond the scope of her mayoral duties.

The vote was unanimous.

ABC 15 is to Mayor Pickett and Councilwoman Terry Davis, who didn't attend the meeting due to other obligations.

The city's attorney clarified the council's motion as to how it impacts Pickett.

"The temporary suspension of ceremonial privileges does not in any way infringe upon the statutory powers of the mayor. Right. It does not infringe upon the fact that she was elected to the office of mayor, that she still holds a seat on council, and as a full council. This simply is the ceremonial privileges that are granted to the office of mayor by council through the municipal code, and those are temporarily suspended pending completion of this investigation and further action with council," said Attorney Jim Bain.

Council members said they had to take action because Pickett was doing things without their knowledge or approval as a unified council.

"We have a strong city council, weak mayor form of government in Mullins. And for the past year and longer, that has not been allowed because our mayor has taken actions without consulting the council. At different times when things have happened, it has gotten back to me, as the administrator did she ask you to do the mayor? I asked you to do these things. And the answer was no. So, I feel that it is time to take action. And I make a motion to temporarily suspend the ceremonial privileges of Mayor Miko Pickard until an investigation is complete, " said Councilman Malcom E. Kitchen.

"This, along with some other things that maybe addressed here today, needs to come through council. And, I mean, that's our form of government. Our municipal handbook states that, the form, council form of government, is considered government by committee because the council exercises all legislative and administrative functions. And that means the Council needs to be consulted and aware of what's going on when we're not. So that's not a primary concern," said Councilman Luke Gasque.

"I'm not going to say much, but, I, I also think that the mayor should have identified and notified all the city council of what's going on in the city. Which he hasn't done on some occasions," said Councilman Albert Woodberry.

"Any activity that's in question that may have a major impact or harm to the city, it needs to be addressed. We will have ordinances, and we have rules that are implemented. And in place that we, that we all took an oath to go by and so far, things are not being handled the way according to our ordinances," said Councilwoman Kindra Brewton-Pompey.

"My concern is the public receiving misinformation and information that is not correct," said Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Wilson.

Several of Pickett's supporters attended the special-called council meeting, including her husband and son.

"Like anything she does, they look to vote against it. I know she had an event coming up where she was going to present something at the Jesse Jackson memorial that they were having in Columbia. So maybe they got wind of that, because anytime she tries to do anything on Black History Month or for black people, that council is normally against that," said Dominic Pickett, Mayor's Husband.

Pickett's son, Darius Pickett, said her mother learned of the special meeting on Thursday, less than 24 hours before it was called.

"She had a prior engagement, and she even told council members that she could meet them after 1:00. There was really no attempt to make sure that she was here. And Councilwoman Terri Davis also, my understanding, said that she had other engagements. So it's a shame that we couldn't have waited at least until everybody's district could have been represented, including the mayor," said Darius Pickett, the mayor's son.

Edla Vaughn and Mary White came out for the special-called meeting to support Pickett.

They don't think council members are treating Pickett fairly in working to move the city forward.

"I think it's totally, totally inappropriate. There's no justification for it. People who will look at the video of the city council meeting will see no violations. It was everything was ambiguous. And they said no codes, no anything. They just sat there and talked off the top of their head. And they've been doing this for months. I call them the lame duck City Council. They've been after her for months," said Vaughn.

"I don't agree with a lot of things that they've done today, especially with the comments that they made saying that they don't know her moves. I don't believe that the mayor will make a move that they don't know about, especially having this meeting today, knowing that she was not going to be here. So there's nothing that she does that they don't already know about," said White.

Mayor Pickett has called a news conference for later Friday afternoon to address an effort to move the City of Mullins' municipal elections from November of even-numbered years to April of odd-numbered years, according to a news release.

The release further states:

"The City of Mullins has conducted its elections in November for at least 28 years.

This proposed change is reportedly being spearheaded and supported by high-level elected officials and other government representatives. Mullins is a community of approximately 4,000 residents, with a population that is approximately 77% African American. More than 25% of its citizens live below the poverty line.

Despite economic hardship, Mullins remains a resilient community with a proud and historic legacy.

Once the leading tobacco market in South Carolina, the citizens of Mullins deserve leadership and governance that honors both that legacy and their constitutional rights.

During the press conference, documented communications will be presented that highlight serious concerns regarding election integrity, transparency, and adherence to lawful procedure. These communications reflect what appears to be a coordinated effort that could disenfranchise citizens of Mullins and undermine the principles of free and fair elections."

ABC 15 will have more from Pickett's conference later Friday evening.