Matthew Watts was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Carthage City Council during the meeting of the council on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
A seat on the council was vacated by Councilman Randy Dennis, who chose to step down due to health issues.
The City of Carthage issued a public notice on November 29, 2018, to inform Carthage citizens that the council would appoint a new member at its next meeting. Qualified citizens were encouraged to submit letters of interest.
Five Carthage citizens—Matthew Watts, Mark Grover, Phillip Kinslow, Roy Ethridge, and Kevin Burris—submitted letters expressing interest in the position. Each potential candidate was given three minutes to address the council and explain why they wished to serve on the Carthage City Council.
After hearing from all the candidates, the council voted 4-1 to appoint Matthew Watts to fill the unexpired term.
Watts has previously served on the Carthage City Council, and his name appeared as an incumbent on the November 6, 2018, ballot. He received a total of 204 votes, coming in behind Cole Ebel (314 votes), Sam Petty (260), and Billy K. Reece (254 votes).
Watts was sworn in following the council’s vote. Watts’s term began on December 6, 2018, and will continue until November 3, 2020.
The Carthage City Council also elected a Vice-Mayor during the December 6 meeting.
Councilwoman Barbara Kanappel was initially nominated for the position but respectfully declined the nomination.
Councilman Watts, Councilwoman Scott, and Councilman Ebel expressed interest in the Vice-Mayor position, and the council took a vote on those three candidates.
The Carthage City Council voted 5-1 to elect Matthew Watts to serve as Vice-Mayor of the Carthage City Council.
The following members currently sit on the Carthage City Council:
- Mayor Sarah Marie Smith
- Vice-Mayor Matt Watts
- Councilwoman Barbara Kannapel
- Councilwoman Jacquelyn M. Scott
- Councilman Sam Petty
- Councilman Bill K. Reece
- Councilman Cole Ebel
The Carthage City Council meets at 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month inside the James A. Clay Municipal Building in Carthage, Tennessee.
The next meeting of the Carthage City Council will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019. This meeting will be live-streamed by Smith County Insider.
Interested citizens can stay updated on the Town of Carthage by visiting this website or checking the town’s Facebook page.
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