HOPEWELL -- At his last City Council meeting, Mayor Steven R. Taylor's only item on the agenda died without a vote.

He made a proposal for the city to buy a property for $185,000.

The Sherman Avenue home belongs to an elderly man who for years has been in a battle with the city, claiming it is partly to blame for the bad conditions of his home.

Buying the property was a last effort to end the conflict and help an elderly resident, Taylor said. His colleagues disagreed.

Often, the 41-year-old Hopewell native has been seen as a nice guy who speaks up about faith and family values during meetings: At Taylor's last council meeting, he asked fellow councilman the Rev. Curtis W. Harris to publicly pray for him and his family.

Taylor also has been regarded as a skilled politician who masters Hopewell politics well.

But today, Taylor is enjoying the last day of his second term in office. Taylor, who previously held the job of vice mayor, decided not to seek re-election so he could spend more time with his growing family.

He and his wife, Kimberly, have a 1-year-old daughter and a baby boy on the way. Recently, after he got home late from city commitments, he found a note alerting him that daughter Jordan's top two teeth were coming in.

"I'd missed it. . . . Hopefully, next time I won't miss being the first to notice," he said. "I am just looking forward to being a father. My wife and I have a whole bunch of things we need to do to get another room ready for another child."

During his tenure as mayor, the council hired a new city manager and police chief. Taylor was one of four council members who voted to fire Police Chief Rex H. Marks in 2006 amid an investigation regarding missing evidence.

More than a year later, in December, the city hired its new chief, Steven R. Martin, someone Taylor said has the vision to handle the city's crime concerns.

On the council, Taylor's votes often favored development projects, retail and growth. But he opposed a controversial project that could bring an ethanol plant to the city.

Vice Mayor Brenda S. Pelham, who could be Hopewell's next mayor and was often at odds with Taylor, got a majority of the council behind the project.

City officials and some residents have praised Taylor's role in Hopewell's growth.

"He looked out for the city," said community activist Janice Denton, who added that she didn't always agree with Taylor.

The city is in much better shape than it was eight years ago, Taylor said, noting the ongoing housing and commercial development projects and the possibility of growth with the expansion of Fort Lee.

"I am really excited," he said. "We have made the city a more desirable place to live."
Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.