Charles Smith Named City of Palmetto Ward 1 Commissioner

Charles Smith

PALMETTO -- Charles Smith's family and friends were there; his father Robert, his aunt Jena and his uncle, former Oakland Raider Super Bowl Champion Henry Lawrence. His friends were out in numbers as well, like Ruby Byrd, Shirley Pearson and Betty Roe, all of whom showed support for Smith to be named to the Ward 1 seat for the Palmetto City Commission. 

The other applicant, Carolyn Higdon, had a lot of support too, including Mary Lancaster who had just previously held the Ward 1 seat until she recently resigned. Mary said that Higdon was from the ward and that it needed someone who could walk the walk and who knew what was needed to be known. Lancaster was commissioner of Ward 1 for 14 years. She said that Higdon had served her country for 24 years as a non-commissioned officer in the Army and would serve the city well." 

But it was Smith's day, and the 20 of so that came to support him left to celebrate soon after the vote, which was 3-1. He said before he left that he would make them all proud, and that he loved them all, thanking them for their support. Smith is chair of the board of directors for the Manatee/Sarasota chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as a state and national board member for the SCLC. At-large Commissioner Alan Zirkelbach cast the lone vote for Ms. Higdon.