(The latest in a series of posts on City government)
Bethlehem City Councilman Shawn Martell is resigning from his seat in mid-August because he is moving to Washington, D.C., for a new job.
A lifelong Bethlehem resident, Martell is moving to the nation’s capital to join his fiancé and work with the public education team at the United States Botanic Garden. The teacher said it is a difficult choice.
“Bethlehem has been my lifelong home and given me so much over the years,” Martell said in a press release.”… Rest assured that I will also continue to advocate for smart, sustainable and progressive community and economic development.”
Martell said he is most proud of council’s collaborative effort to protect and invest in Bethlehem’s neighborhoods, promote economic stability, prioritize fiscal sustainability and increase government accountability and transparency.
While Martell opted to not seek re-election this year, his Aug. 19 resignation will leave a short-term vacancy on council until newly-elected members are sworn-in in January. Council is mandated to appoint someone to fill the seat within 30 days of Martell’s resignation.
Council will discuss the vacancy at its next meeting Aug. 6 under new business, said Adam Waldron, council president.
Waldron thinks that council should appoint Democrat Grace Crampsie-Smith, who is running unopposed in the November general election, to fill the remaining two year’s of former Councilman Eric Evan’s seat.
