MANSFIELD — Kimberly Moton was chosen Thursday by 6th Ward members of the Richland County Democratic Central Committee to replace Jean Taddie as the ward’s representative on Mansfield City Council.
Moton will complete the unexpired term of Taddie, who resigned on Oct. 21 to accept a position with the Richland County Regional Planning Commission as the transit development manager.
That term expires on Dec. 31, 2023. Taddie, appointed to council in January 2019 and then elected to the position in last November’s election, cannot serve on Mansfield City Council while working for RCRPC, which administers federal grants.
The 51-year-old Moton will be sworn into her first public office on Sunday at the Democratic Party headquarters in the Reid & McCartney Memorial Building, 16 S. Park St. in Mansfield.
“I didn’t know there was going to be an opening until I was contacted,” Moton said Friday afternoon. “I was excited about it. I would like to be able to voice the concerns of my constituents and the residents of Mansfield.”
Moton is a substitute teacher in Mansfield City Schools, though she is currently on special assignment doing reading intervention at Sherman Elementary School .
She holds a bachelor of arts degree in social work from The University of Akron and a master of science in higher education leadership and administration from Capella University.
In the 6th Ward, Moton said she is interested in cleaning up houses that remain vacant and demolishing those that need to be razed. She said a priority would also be finding new usages with lots that have become available after previous demolitions.
Moton, who has a strong desire to resolve trash dumping and neighborhood clean-up issues, worked with Taddie, who shared those interests.
“I am also interested in looking at overall economic development and what opportunities that could present themselves in my ward and the entire city of Mansfield,” Moton said.
Matt Finfgeld, the party’s central committee chairman, said Moton was a unanimous choice among the three 6th Ward central committee members.
“I think Kimberly will be a great addition to council with some fresh ideas for the city,” Finfgeld said.
