28-05-2025
Pottsville City Council poised to select new mayor, maybe
POTTSVILLE — City council is having a special meeting at 6:30 tonight with the main order of business selecting a new mayor.
Pottsville Mayor Mark Atkinson stepped down abruptly in early May for health reasons. He was finishing the unexpired term of Mayor Dave Clews, who also resigned for health reasons.
Four candidates have submitted a letter of interest for the mayoral seat: City council members Andy Wollyung a Democrat, who recently ran on the Democratic ballot in the May 20 primary, Tom Smith, a Republican who also ran in the May 20 primary; William Messaros, also a member of city council; and Mikaela Gavaletz, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
With two of the four siting council members seeking the mayoral seat, the potential for a conflict of interest arises as they can't vote for themselves, said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
According to the Pennsylvania Ethics Act, a conflict of interest arises if a person uses their authority or their public office/employment or confidential information received through their public office or employment, which is used for the private, pecuniary (monetary) benefit of the public official/public employee himself, any member of his immediate family, or business with which he or a member of their family is associated.
Ed Brennan, solicitor for city council, was not immediately available for comment.
This story will be updated.
