Smith to fill open Bethlehem City Council seat

Democrat Grace Crampsie Smith, who is running unopposed this fall for Bethlehem City Council, will be sworn in to her seat on the council early.

She was unanimously picked Tuesday by the City Council to fill out the final four months of the term of freshman Councilman Shawn Martell, a Democrat who resigned this month for personal reasons. She is unopposed on the November ballot for a two-year term, which would start in January.

The two-year seat was created last year when Councilman Eric Evans resigned to become city business administrator. The council appointed Paige Van Wirt, a physician, to serve in Evans’ seat until voters determined who would serve the remainder of his term.

Van Wirt decided to run for a four-year seat instead after Martell announced he wouldn’t seek a second term.

Martell announced this summer he would be moving to Washington, D.C., where his fiancee and a new job await. His resignation was effective Monday.

By law, the City Council has 30 days to appoint a replacement once Martell resigned. Council members said they would rather give Smith a head start on the job than appoint a placeholder. In the recent vacancies, the council had solicited resumes and held public interviews.

Smith is expected to be sworn into office next month.

After Tuesday’s vote, Smith said in an interview that she was honored and humbled by the support she received during the campaign and by the council’s appointment.

She said she appreciated the ability to join the council in time to be part of vetting Mayor Robert Donchez’s budget proposal for next year.

Smith, a school counselor, holds a master’s degree in education and school counseling from Lehigh University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social welfare from Bloomsburg University.

She was a member of the adjunct faculty at Lehigh Carbon Community College and also worked as an addictions counselor and coordinator of community and early intervention services for the office of Lehigh County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. She completed the Bethlehem Police Citizens Academy. And has participated in several political groups including the Northampton County Democratic Committee, Lehigh Valley Democratic Progressive Coalition, Lehigh Valley ROAR and Lehigh Valley for All.