Goldsborough appointed to Crisfield City Council

Crisfield-Somerset County Times
Posted 3/20/21

CRISFIELD — Casey T. Goldsborough said he planned to run in 2022 but now has a head start in local politics as the City Council unanimously appointed him to fill the seat vacated in January by …

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Goldsborough appointed to Crisfield City Council

Posted

CRISFIELD — Casey T. Goldsborough said he planned to run in 2022 but now has a head start in local politics as the City Council unanimously appointed him to fill the seat vacated in January by Nelson Sheppard.

The 2014 Crisfield High School graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Salisbury University in 2019 is executive director of the Crisfield Heritage Foundation.

The Dennis Lane resident was sworn-in by Mayor Barry Dize during a special meeting earlier this month.

“I’m thankful to be here,” Mr. Goldsborough said during the meeting broadcast over Zoom and on the city’s Facebook page. He said Crisfield was a great home to grow up in, adding, “I love this town, I see the future here and I really want to help it grow.”

Councilman Mike Atkins said discussion on replacements started before Mr. Sheppard’s resignation was formally announced, and it came to a head during a closed work session last month that was supposed to last 45 minutes but went on for an hour and a half.

“Not because there was any disagreement or argument, none whatsoever,” Dr. Atkins said, “but we went over things again and again and again just to make sure are we making the best decision we can make.”

He said Mr. Goldsborough “checked all the boxes for us.”

Dr. Atkins called it “a proud day” not just for the Goldsborough family and the City Council “but the whole town.” He said Mr. Goldsborough is interested and invested in this community “and excited about the future of Crisfield.”

Vice President Eric Banks, who made the motion for the appointment with a second by Dr. Atkins, welcomed Mr. Goldsborough and reminded him of the learning curve ahead. “I wish him the best” he said as the council works to build consensus and move forward.

Mr. Goldsborough’s first official act was to second a motion by Dr. Atkins to support a grant application by the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition to fund a Youth Entrepreneurial Program. Mr. Banks, a member of GCAC, and Councilwoman Charlotte Scott, a former president, abstained as required by the ethics ordinance due to their present and past involvement with GCAC.

It took the appointment to the vacant council seat at least through May 18 before there would be a quorum of council members who could vote on GCAC requests. Ms. Scott resigned from the community development corporation on that date in 2020 and the code requires one year of separation. Mr. Banks is currently on the GCAC board.

Mayor Barry Dize said he had no vote on Mr. Goldsborough’s appointment but “it was a good decision.” It was “a laborious process,” the mayor said, with his role as “arbitrator.” He said they did not want candidate names out on the street, but knew when it was announced that the vote would be unanimous or at least 3-1.

“Now you can pick on a new Goldsborough, you won’t have to pick on me all the time,” said Casey’s father, Dean, who along with is mother LuAnn and Casey’s daughter Amelia were outside City Hall for pictures during a break in the meeting.

There are now two appointed members serving on the council, the other being Dr. Atkins, who was appointed in January 2020 to replace Gail Lankford, who resigned after moving out of Crisfield. Dr. Atkins however is not a newcomer as he was first appointed in February 2008, then won his seat during the election that June, and was re-elected in 2012.

The seats held by Dr. Atkins, Mr. Goldsborough, Councilman Jimmy Ford and Mayor Dize all come before the voters in June 2022.

Mr. Sheppard, elected in 2018, resigned from the council when he was hired to be a city code enforcer.

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