Appointments debate: residents object to interim picks as council prepares to vote Jan. 27

Mayor Michael Sutphin announced two recommended interim appointees to fill council vacancies — Joel Goodhart and Andrew Kasoff — and summarized their backgrounds. The appointments are interim under state law and will remain in place until a special election in November 2026; council said it will consider public comments and vote on the interim appointments at its Jan. 27 meeting.

Public comment on the vacancies was robust and sharply divided. Resident Rick Johnson alleged wrongdoing related to a prior council member’s candidacy and said the town should appoint other candidates, stating that "On 12/16/2025, Councilman Liam Watson was convicted of 3 counts of election fraud" and alleging that testimony implicated the previous mayor; Johnson urged appointing Rick Johnson and Pete Macedo. Several other speakers echoed concerns about transparency in the appointment process and asked that the council release the full list of applicants for the interim seats.

Other commenters supported the mayor’s nominees. Joel Goodhart spoke briefly and thanked the council for the opportunity to serve, emphasizing a focus on housing affordability and street safety; multiple residents offered personal endorsements of Goodhart’s character and experience. Several speakers urged the council to move forward and allow voters to decide the matter at the next regular election.

Why it matters: The interim appointments fill council seats with authority to act in the short term and have generated substantial public interest because of recent controversies involving elections and the town’s governance.

What’s next: Council will discuss public comments in a Jan. 20 work session and vote on the interim appointments at a Jan. 27 council meeting.