Robert Lawson, following his appointment to Harrisburg City Council
Robert Lawson is the newest member of Harrisburg City Council, as he was appointed on Tuesday night to fill a vacant seat on the seven-member legislative body.
Lawson’s appointment capped a four-hour meeting that started with a large field of 16 hopefuls and involved multiple interviews throughout the night.
“City Council has been a goal of mine because it’s one of the most visible ways that I can serve my fellow citizens,” said Lawson, who was raised in Harrisburg, following the vote. “I’m nearly speechless.”
During his interview with council, Lawson stressed that he’s especially interested in helping to grow and strengthen the city’s small business environment, find solutions to affordable housing and encourage young people to stay in the city.
“My heart is with making this a city that thrives and making this a city where people can come here and improve their life situations,” said Lawson, a salesperson for Keystone Custom Homes and president of Lawson Group Insurance Agency. “I want to make sure that people make money, and that’s why community and economic development would be my dream committee to chair.”
The council seat was open following the resignation of former council member Dave Madsen, who was elected to the state House of Representatives. Lawson, 50, will serve the remainder of Madsen’s term, which expires in January 2024.
On Monday, the city reported that there were 20 applicants for the open seat, but only 16 attended the council meeting to be interviewed.
After brief introductions by each applicant, council members each nominated a finalist, leading to lengthier interviews of six nominees. When those interviews were completed, council members cast final votes for their preferred candidates, which also included nominees Pamela Parson and Tina Nixon.
In the end, council went through three rounds of voting to achieve the four-vote majority needed to select a new member. Lawson, who previously ran unsuccessfully for council in 2021, will be sworn into office on Wednesday, preceding the next council meeting.
“This is just wonderful,” Lawson said. “I look forward to serving.”
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
