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Julie Smith appointed to Ward 4 after council interviews
Summary
Charles Town council appointed Julie Smith to fill the Ward 4 vacancy following interviews with four finalists; the council voted 4–2 with one member recused. Smith will be sworn in at the next meeting.
After interviewing four finalists for the Ward 4 vacancy, Charles Town City Council voted 4–2 to appoint Julie Smith to represent Ward 4. The appointment followed a public interview process at the Sept. 2 meeting and will be formalized with a swearing-in at the council’s next meeting.
Smith, an English teacher at Charles Town Middle School who said she moved to the city in 2014 and has three children, told council she would bring an education and public-communication perspective to the seat. “I have an education and public communication background,” she said during her introduction, describing community engagement and supporting local schools as priorities.
One council member recused themself from the Ward 4 interview and vote because an applicant is the member’s daughter’s teacher; the recusal was announced before interviews began. Councilors asked candidates about fiscal philosophy, neighborhood outreach and plans for managing growth; candidates emphasized traffic safety near Washington High School, crosswalks, parks connectivity and promoting downtown events.
Mayor (speaker 2) announced the tally after the vote and said the new councilor will receive her certificate and be sworn in at the next meeting. The council also agreed to retain remaining applicants for consideration should another opening arise.
