History making mayor talks about challenges

Martinsville City Council elected Kathy Lawson Tuesday and a day later, she faced her first major challenge when furniture maker American of Martinsville announced it would layoff 400 full-time employees.

Lawson was all smiles talking about her new job.  She ran for council in 2006 and in just two short years was voted by her peers to be Martinsville’s mayor.  It’s an accomplishment she credits to hard work.

“I typically am very well informed when I walk into a council meeting and I have my little notes scribbled all over my agenda,“ Lawson explained.

Even on a holiday she’s going through packets of information, and reading everything that she needs to. 

Lawson’s optimistic about the future of Martinsville and her role as mayor.  The city’s sluggish economy, she says, is the number one problem facing the area as more and more jobs pack-up leaving locals looking for a place to work.

“Martinsville has been struck down, struck down and struck down with unemployment, with plant closings,“ said Lawson.

She can’t understand the city’s job woes.  To her the area has a lot to offer businesses, good schools, a great working relationship with Henry County, and lots of land space.  Those characteristics are just a few ways she hopes to market the area.

“We don’t give up. We are not quitters,” she said.  “We have people in positions who are working everyday to find new companies to come in, develop more economic opportunities for us and we are just going to progressively move forward.“

It’s something her predecessor began, and a goal she hopes to accomplish.