The Southern Highland Reader

SYLVA–Sylva town leaders, in a unanimous vote, have named former Economic Development Commission board member Chris Matheson to fill an empty seat on their board.

The vote at Thursday’s meeting filled the seat vacated by newly-elected mayor Maurice Moody.

The naming of Moody’s replacement had been the focus of speculation, because on the frequently ideologically divided board Moody often provided the “swing” vote.

Thursday night’s proceeding before a packed house was the final meeting for Sylva’s longtime mayor, Brenda Oliver. Oliver has served as mayor since 1991, and was a town board member for a decade prior to that.

The meeting was also the last for board member Harold Hensley, who was unseated in recent elections. Hensley was replaced by Danny Allen, a previous board member who won re-election. Also sworn in was incumbent Stacy Knotts. Knotts and Allen were the top vote-getters among five candidates for two seats on the board.

Some, including the newspaper The Sylva Herald, had argued that Hensley, as the third-highest vote-getter in the November elections, should’ve been appointed to fill Moody’s seat.

Coverage from the Smoky Mountain News here.

Coverage from the Sylva Herald here. (Link expires in one week)

Tags: Brenda Oliver, chris matheson, economic development, maurice moody, Smoky Mountain News, stacy knotts, Sylva, Sylva Herald, Sylva Town Board

Related posts:

1. UPDATED: Allen, Knotts win town board seats in Sylva
2. Sylva mayor will not seek re-election; board member Moody files for mayor
3. Sylva Town Board continues work on steep slope ordinance
4. Sylva Town Board adopts steep slope amendment
5. Sylva hires town manager

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.