HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Marie Hughes has been appointed to serve in the Ward 5 seat on the Hopkinsville City Council. The longtime administrator for Christian County Public Schools was sworn in during the July 7 meeting.
Hughes told Christian County Now that her 16 years of experience in the school system unknowingly prepared her for this new position, and she has attended multiple meetings and met with residents in her ward leading up to the vote.
“I am good about following through and following back up with people,” said Hughes. “I am trying to listen and trying to research what their concerns are.”
After sitting on the council for nine years, previous Ward 5 Councilmember Amy Craig announced her resignation in June. In accordance with the city’s council vacancy procedures, interested residents of Ward 5 were encouraged to apply for the position, with councilmembers responsible for selecting who will be chosen.
Hughes was the only applicant and was unanimously approved by the council. She was immediately sworn in by Mayor James R. Knight before taking her seat for the rest of the July 7 meeting. She said, “It’s a learning curve, but I’m enjoying the process so far…I’ve got a lot more to learn now.”
Hughes will hold the seat until through the end of the year, pending the results of the November election. Prior to the vacancy, she filed to run for city council and will be up against Anna Norris (R).
The council recently went through this same process to fill a different vacant seat in April, with Terry Meek selected to serve for Ward 8 after his son resigned from the position in March.
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