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ROCK HILL The York County Council has one fresh face and council Chairman Britt Blackwell says he’s optimistic about the experience of representatives at the council’s table.
Michael Johnson from Fort Mill and Tega Cay’s District One is the newcomer on the seven-member council.
Johnson lives in Tega Cay and is an attorney in Fort Mill. He has previously served on the Fort Mill school board.
At Monday night’s swearing-in ceremony for council members, Johnson said he’ll focus on job creation and commercial development in District One.
Road maintenance and intersection improvements in Fort Mill and Tega Cay, Johnson said, are also at the top of his priority list.
Joe Cox, District Three’s representative, is back on the county council after losing to Eric Winstead in 2010. Cox, whp served two terms on the York County Council between 2006 and 2010, has been on the Sharon Town Council and is a former mayor of Sharon.
Council members unanimously elected Cox on Monday to serve as the panel’s vice-chairman.
Cox’s previous council terms and Johnson’s success on the school board, Blackwell said, will pair well with the experience of the five returning council members as they face a “strenuous” budget-making process ahead.
The council will hold two county budget workshops at 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the large conference room at the Heckle Government Office at 1070 Heckle Boulevard in Rock Hill.
Also on Monday, the council members unanimously approved re-electing Blackwell as council chairman. He’s served on the council as the District Six representative and chairman since 2010.
Other elected officials who participated in the York County Inauguration Ceremony on Monday included:
• Sheriff Bruce Bryant
Clerk of Court David Hamilton
Coroner Sabrina Gast
Solicitor Kevin Brackett
County Council District Two representative Bruce Henderson
County Council District Four representative Bump Roddey
County Council District Five representative Curwood Chappell
County Council District Seven representative Chad Williams
