White Hall fills council position
In a special called meeting Friday afternoon, White Hall City Council members unanimously approved the appointment of Sara Lunsford to fill the council seat left vacant by her late husband.
Andrew M. “Andy” Lunsford of White Hall was killed Dec. 31 in an automobile crash near Little Rock, leaving the Ward 1 City Council position open. He had served since 2007 and was reelected to another two-year term in the November General Election.
“This was the first time we have lost an elected official in a tragic accident, and it left us in shock,” White Hall Mayor Noel Foster said Thursday afternoon.
Following council approval, Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth administered the oath of office to Sara Lunsford, 46.
Council Member Ken Smith requested the Friday meeting.
Foster said Sara Lunsford expressed her interest in serving the remainder of her late husband’s seat.
“I made the council aware of her request, and they enthusiastically supported her appointment,” Foster said.
Sara Lunsford said her husband enjoyed his role on
the City Council, adding he was a good steward of the city’s money.
“I saw his passion, and I want to carry on his legacy,” she said.
She is only the third woman to serve on the council.
Also, like her husband, she brings a lifetime of business experience to the city, Foster said.
Sara Lunsford is founding partner of the six-yearold online beauty and wellness company, MONAT Global and leads an organization of more than 300,000 women across six countries.
She co-founded D-BAT SEARK, a baseball and softball training facility at White Hall. With the death of her husband, she was named chief executive officer of Lunsford Realty, also in White Hall.
She has experience in brand development, business development, communication and marketing.
As well, she has supported the marketing efforts of Southeast Arkansas College, Central Moloney and Relyance Bank.
Although Sara Lunsford said she brings an entirely different skill set than her husband to the council, what she brings, such as professional communications experience, could possibly complement others on the council.
She said she is “passionate about economic development and taking care of our first responders so they can take care of us when we’re in need.”
She’s also interested in youth programs: “I want to serve and help where I can. This is a great way to do that.”
For the past five years, Sara Lunsford has served on the board of directors of Soaring Wings, a Christian home for children.
“We welcome her business experience, education and experience in communications and believe she will be an asset to the city,” Foster said. “On behalf of the city council, we are looking forward to working with council member Sara Lunsford for the next two years,” he said.