A new city council member has filled the last vacancy after being voted in on April 13. Shawn Wilson was voted in by his fellow council members to represent the Fourth Ward on Marion City Council.
After Twila Laing resigned from her position to become city treasurer, the seat has been vacant. City Council was tasked with filling it in a roll call vote during its meeting on April 13.
Wilson, a Republican, was voted in after a 7-1 vote. Scott Crider, At Large, was the only member to nominate a candidate other than Wilson.
The newest member of city council is a transportation manager at the Ohio Department of Transportation and oversees special projects and the bridge department. His interest in city council began after watching a family member take up a seat on city council. Later, he was inspired by now-fellow council member Shawn Barr, First Ward.
Wilson’s priority on city council is the beautification of Marion. He wants to see the exterior of homes cleaned up around the city and will explore ways to do it through city council.
“I want to clean up the area,” Wilson said. “That’s my biggest thing.”
Wilson hasn’t spoken with residents around the Fourth Ward yet, but plans to now that he’s been appointed. He’d like to learn more about what the ward would like to see him do.
“I’m their voice,” Wilson said. “I mean, that’s why I’m in there, you know?”
Wilson was assigned to the streets and sewers committee, the public utilities committee, and the airport, lands and buildings committee.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Shawn Wilson joins Marion council, focuses on city beautification
Reporting by Abby Bammerlin, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
