Applicants sought for Norris council vacancy
LORETTA PAINTER
The council will consider those applicants and appoint a new council member during its next regular meeting, July 13.
That person would serve through November. The regular biennial council election will be held on Nov. 3, and the new council will take office in December, beginning with the regular council meeting Dec. 14.
The city of Norris posted this notice on its website on June 9:
“At the June 8, 2026, regular City Council meeting, the Norris City Council accepted the resignation of Councilmember Loretta Painter and declared a vacancy on City Council.
“City Council will consider an appointment to fill the vacancy at the July 13, 2026. regular City Council meeting.
“Individuals interested in being considered for appointment should submit a letter of interest and any related documents to the City Manager by email at citymanager@norristn.gov no later than Monday, June 22, 2026.
“City Council members are expected to attend the regular City Council meeting held on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. City Council also serves as the Water Commission, which meets on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
“All submitted information is a public record and will be made available to the public in advance of the July 13 meeting. This will also provide current City Council members an opportunity to review submissions and speak with interested individuals prior to considering an appointment.”
Painter, who was in her sixth two-year term on the council, informed City Manager Bailey Whited in late May that she was resigning from the council, effective immediately,
“I’m off to a new adventure in a new state,” she said in her brief resignation email to Whited. “Best to all.”
Painter was first elected to the council in 2012, and had easily won re-election every two years since.
Her current term – as well as the terms of the other four council members – expires at the end of November.
“I’m moving out of town and starting my new adventure, and leaving City Council after 14 years,” Painter told The Courier News. “And it has all been extremely interesting.
“I hope that the person who takes my seat is an independent think and that they enjoy the process as much as I have,” she said. “I love the process of local government. The people I have worked with have been challenging and interesting at the same time.”
The remaining four council members will name the replacement for Painter to serve until the end of her term.
The council members are Chris Mitchell, who also serves as mayor; Charles P. “Chuck” Nicholson, who is vice mayor; Bill Grieve; and Travis Honeycutt.
