Marie Hughes to fill Hopkinsville City Council Ward Five vacancy

Marie Hughes was sworn in at Tuesday’s Hopkinsville City Council meeting to fill the Ward Five vacancy following Amy Craig’s resignation.

Craig resigned in early June, and not too long afterward, Ward Five residents were invited to apply to fill her vacancy. Hughes was reportedly the only candidate who applied, and city council members unanimously approved her selection for the position.

Hughes says she became interested in joining the city council after she heard that Craig wasn’t planning to run for reelection, and some of her neighbors thought she would be a good fit for the position. Hughes started attending city council meetings and says she enjoyed learning more about Hopkinsville.

Hughes has worked in the Christian County Public School System for 16 years and currently serves as an administrative secretary. She says feels as though her job’s duties have helped her gain skills that will come in handy when representing her ward.

Hughes will serve on the council until 2027, but before then she will appear on the general election ballot where she is running as the Democratic candidate for the city council’s Ward Five seat. She will face Republican opponent Anna Norris.

Continuing with the meeting, council members approved an ordinance to install a two-way stop at Old Lovers Lane and Martin Place.

Council members then discussed a municipal order that would establish the Opioid Trust Fund Grant program, City Clerk Brittany Byrum read the program’s outlines.

Ward Three Council Member Don Marsh questioned if the program would have an internal review committee and Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight says the council would be responsible for reviewing grant requests. Marsh then requested for the guidelines to be further discussed at the next Committee of the Whole meeting.

The council approved the guidelines, but they may be amended in the future.