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Dr. Gettys Cohen Jr. appointed to fill Smithfield Town Council District 1 seat
Summary
Dr. Gettys Cohen Jr. was selected by Smithfield Town Council after a two-round secret-ballot process and sworn in immediately to fill the District 1 vacancy left by Councilman Marlon Lee.
Dr. Gettys Cohen Jr., a retired health care provider and 50-year Smithfield resident, was appointed unanimously to the Town of Smithfield Council to fill the District 1 vacancy at the council meeting.
The council chose Cohen after a two-round secret-ballot process among three applicants. Town staff said the selection order had been determined by lot and each candidate was allowed five minutes for opening remarks followed by a round of council questions. After the first ballot Cohen led with four votes to one; the council then held a runoff between the top two candidates, Cohen and Felicia Baxter. The runoff returned a unanimous 5–0 vote for Cohen, and the council then made the appointment by voice vote and immediately swore him into office.
The appointment followed public and council questioning of all three applicants. Cohen told the council he had lived in Smithfield for five decades and described his priorities as safety, infrastructure and listening to residents: “I will give 100% of myself,” he said in his opening remarks. Felicia Baxter, one of the applicants, spoke of workforce development and community outreach during her presentation.
Town staff outlined the selection procedure in advance: candidates were presented in an order determined by a drawing, council members cast secret ballots, ballots were tallied by the clerk, and if more than two candidates received votes the lowest vote-getter would be dropped and a runoff held between the top two. The manager also explained that the mayor has authority to break tie votes if needed. After the appointment the clerk administered the oath of office and Cohen took his seat on the dais.
Council members noted there will be a regular municipal election in November that gives voters the final say on the seat during the next electoral cycle.
The appointment completes the council’s immediate need to fill the seat left by the late Councilman Marlon Lee, whose legacy several candidates referenced during their remarks.
