Joshua Bell will be the newest member of Lawtey’s City Council.
Lawtey held a special election last week to fill the open council seat. Bell won the race with 85 voters. Kendra Butler Griffin received 30 votes.
Bell, 37, is student services coordinator at the Santa Fe College campus in Starke and works to connect students with the resources they need to achieve their academic goals. Bell previously told the Telegraph his current role gives him experience in bringing “different approaches to pressing issues.”
Bell also owns and operates the business Brotherly Bling. He previously worked as a team teacher at Lawtey and Starke elementary schools and is currently working to earn a degree in organizational management.
Bell says his vision for Lawtey is one that continues the deep local connections but also looks to bring resources and events for the youth of the city. He said the city comes together for fun events, but there are a lot of untapped ideas. Bell said if elected, he hopes to take the ideas of his neighbors and friends in Lawtey and do what he does best, “transform that information into meeting needs.”
Bell will finish out the term of Emily Hoffman who resigned from the position.
