Oak Ridge North City Council unanimously appointed Dawn Candy to fill the vacated seat of Place 4, following Council Member Michelle Cassio’s resignation during a special meeting Oct. 11.

Community Impact Newspaper confirmed with Oak Ridge North Mayor Jim Kuykendall on Oct. 8 that Cassio would be resigning during Thursday’s meeting, citing that Cassio wanted to focus on her business, Cassio Creations.

The council unanimously accepted Cassio’s resignation Oct. 11.

“Michelle, thank you very much. It’s been an honor serving with you—it really has been,” Kuykendall said during the meeting. “And I know your business is going great, and you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Kuykendall presented Cassio with a plaque for her service following her resignation. Cassio was first elected to council in 2016 and was sworn in for a second term earlier this year. During the Oct. 11 meeting, Kuykendall recommended resident Dawn Candy to take Cassio’s position.

“We have one candidate that I’ve recommended [to take Place 4], Dawn Candy, who’s served on [the Oak Ridge North] Economic Development Corporation board,” Kuykendall said. “[However], she’s not here tonight—she just got out of the hospital … and her doctor would not let her out of the house today.”

The council unanimously appointed Candy to Position 4, and she will be sworn in during the Oct. 22 meeting, Kuykendall said.

Candy will serve the rest of Cassio’s term, which is set to expire in May 2019. For more information about the Oak Ridge North City Council, click here.