Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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Martinsville, Virginia 24115
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Kathy Lawson is sworn in by Martinsville Circuit Court Clerk Ashby Pritchett on Tuesday in the city council chambers. Councilman Gene Teague is seen in the background at left. Lawson is the first woman to hold the mayor’s post in the city’s history. (Bulletin photo by Kim Barto) |
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Wednesday, July 2, 2008
By KIM BARTO - Bulletin Staff Writer
Martinsville City Council elected a female mayor for the first time in the city’s history on Tuesday morning.
Kathy Lawson was sworn in as mayor by Circuit Court Clerk Ashby Pritchett during an organizational meeting Tuesday. Newly elected, first-time council members Mark Stroud and Danny Turner also took the oath of office during the meeting.
Lawson, who is midway through her first term on council, was nominated for the position by Kimble Reynolds Jr. Reynolds had served as mayor since 2006 before passing the gavel to Lawson.
In Martinsville, city council members elect a mayor and vice mayor from among themselves. Lawson’s election was unanimous.
“It is truly an honor,” Lawson said, thanking council members for “the confidence you’ve shown in my abilities.”
After the meeting, she admitted taking on the post is “a little nerve-wracking.” But as mayor, Lawson said she will focus on “moving forward, making our city the best place it can be and working with our counterparts in the county.”
During the meeting, Reynolds was sworn in for a second term on city council and was elected vice mayor. He decided not to pursue another term as mayor “after much consideration,” he said.
Some people refer to the office of mayor as “primarily ceremonial,” Reynolds said, but there is much more to the job than many realize.
“While there are certainly ceremonial aspects to it, there’s a lot more that the position entails. It could easily be a full-time job,” Reynolds said.
As for the position of vice mayor, he added, “While you’re still second in line, it does not carry the same level of responsibility as mayor when it comes to presiding over city council meetings and being available for ceremonial functions.”
In a statement, Reynolds thanked the citizens and council members for the opportunity to serve as mayor.
“I encourage everyone to join me in supporting our next mayor’s efforts to advance our community’s progressive initiatives,” he said in the statement.
Of Lawson, Reynolds said, “I think she’ll do an excellent job. She’s very thorough, very involved in the community. She sees the larger picture for our community beyond the city’s borders.”
Lawson is the city’s 42nd mayor since the office was established in 1873, according to city Public Information Officer Scott Coleman. She is the first female council member to hold that office, though council member Liza Severt served as vice mayor from 1984-86, he said.
The previous vice mayor, James Clark, lost his bid for re-election in November. The mayor and vice mayor serve two-year terms.
During the meeting, Reynolds was elected vice mayor in a 4-1 vote, with Turner dissenting.
Turner nominated Stroud for vice mayor, but Stroud evidently did not agree and cast his vote for Reynolds.
“I am honored and flattered to be nominated,” Stroud said, adding, “I’ll vote for me in a few years.”
After taking the oath of office, he said, “I’m very honored and blessed to have been elected and have this opportunity to serve the city and citizens of Martinsville.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to move this city forward,” Stroud added.
Turner also spoke during the meeting.
“Fifty years from now, the citizens of Martinsville will not remember our names, but they’ll remember what we did,” Turner said. “I was elected on a platform of open government and change, and I am looking forward to having spirited debates.” |
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