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Blacksburg council appoints Joel Goodhart and Andrew Kasoff to interim seats after residents raise transparency concerns
Summary
The Blacksburg Town Council voted to appoint Joel Goodhart and Andrew Kasoff to fill two interim council seats for the remainder of the terms, drawing public comment accusing the council of insufficient transparency while others said the process followed legal requirements. A special election will be held in November 2026 to fill the seats permanently.
The Blacksburg Town Council voted to appoint Joel Goodhart and Andrew Kasoff to two interim council seats during its meeting, after residents raised objections about how candidates were selected.
Mayor or presiding officer read a statement explaining the statutory process governing interim appointments, saying vacancies arose after the mayor assumed office and after Liam Watson’s resignation and that state law requires the council to act within 45 days or the Montgomery County Circuit Court assumes responsibility. The presiding officer also said the council held a public hearing on Jan. 13 and instructed the town attorney to petition for a writ of election so the special election may…
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