INTERIM APPOINTMENTS TO BLACKSBURG TOWN COUNCIL
The Blacksburg Town Council has announced that it intends to make interim appointments of Joel Goodhart and Andrew Kassoff to fill two vacant seats on the Town Council. The vacancies were created by the resignations of Michael Sutphin and Liam Watson from their council seats. A public hearing on the appointments will be conducted during the Town Council’s January 13th meeting. After that, the Town Council will make the appointments at its January 27, 2026, meeting. Both the January 13th and the January 27th meetings will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Blacksburg Town Hall, 300 South Main Street.
At its January 13th meeting the Town Council will also adopt a resolution directing the Town Attorney to file a petition and order with the Circuit Court for a writ of election to be entered. The writ will call for an election to be conducted at the November 2026 general election to fill the two seats for the remaining period of Sutphin and Watson’s council terms.
Background information
Joel Goodhart was born and raised in the New River Valley. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech, and his work experience includes positions with the YMCA and Montgomery County Public Schools. He lives in Blacksburg with his wife and two children. Joel ran for Town Council last November and campaigned on being a champion for a stronger, more livable Blacksburg. He attended the Blacksburg Citizen’s Institute and currently serves on the Town’s Housing and Community Development Advisory Board.
Andrew Kassoff is the former President of Environmental Engineering & Education Consulting, Inc., and the former Director of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. He has a bachelor's degree in Geology from James Madison University and a master’s in environmental engineering from Virginia Tech. He has served on the Blacksburg Planning Commission since 2010; prior to that he was the Chair of the Blacksburg Stormwater Task Force.
For more information, contact --
Lorraine Spaulding, Town Clerk
Town of Blacksburg
lspaulding@blacksburg.gov
540-443-1025
