Buckhannon City Council looks a little bit different today.
Shawn Young took the oath of office as a council member on Thursday, joining the city’s governing body at the start of its regular meeting after winning a seat in the spring municipal election.
Young was the top vote-getter in the May 12 election, drawing 209 votes once results were canvassed. Mayor Robbie Skinner administered the oath of office.
“We always enjoy an opportunity to bring someone new into the City of Buckhannon family,” Skinner said.
Young fills the seat left vacant by Dave Thomas, who stepped down in October after nearly six terms on council. Council opted not to appoint a replacement, instead leaving the seat to voters in the May election.
Young will serve the remainder of Thomas’s unexpired term and begin a full four-year term in July.
The Upshur County Commission held a special meeting on Thursday morning to certify the election results so Young could be seated that evening.
“They had to certify the election results before we could bring Shawn on, and I do appreciate them holding a special meeting to certify the election results,” Skinner said.
Given the floor for remarks, Young thanked the voters who supported his campaign. He also expressed gratitude to his family.
“Thank you to all the voters who supported me,” Young said. “I have with me here every man’s two biggest supporters, my wife and my mother.”
Young, president of IBEW Local 596, described knocking doors across the city through a crowded field of council candidates.
“I saw a long list of people running, good people, good names, well known, and I thought I’m going to have to do some work if I’m going to have a chance at this thing,” he said. He added that his mother “might have knocked as many doors as I did, asking people to vote for her son.”
Young said he hoped to bring a spirit of cooperation to the nonpartisan council.
“We come from business, workforce, labor,” he said of his fellow council members. “And we all come together in this nonpartisan council chamber for the best for our city that we all love.”
He closed his remarks by thanking Thomas for “over two decades of service to the city” and said he hoped to “fill those shoes the best I can.”
Young also congratulated fellow council member Scott Randall, who will remain on council for another term after also securing his seat in the May election.
Turning to Skinner, Young said, “Let’s get to work.”
