WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
James Mahan has been appointed to represent the First Ward on the Mount Vernon City Council. He will fulfill the unexpired term of Josh Kirby, who resigned Oct. 20, 2022 for health reasons, after beginning his time on Council on Jan. 1, 2022. The term expires on Dec. 31, 2023.
On Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, the designated members of the Knox County Republican Central
Committee met and voted unanimously to appoint Mahan to fill the vacancy. He will assume the
committee responsibilities of Kirby – chair of the Fire, Police, Civil Defense Committee, second on
the Finance Committee, in addition to being a member of the Utilities and Employee and
Community Relations committees.
“I was sorry to hear about the resignation of Josh Kirby due to health reasons. I join his friends on
Council in prayers for his family,” said Mahan (pronounced MAY-han), who goes by Jay.
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Mahan made Mount Vernon his home after enrolling at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He
graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in history, and earned a master’s degree in
management from the university in 2005.
His wife, Kerri, has taught at Mount Vernon City Schools for more than 25 years, and his children
graduated from Knox County Career Center, Mount Vernon High School and MVNU, where he
currently serves as the assistant registrar for graduate and professional studies.
Mahan is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Ohio Army National Guard.
“Mount Vernon has been so good to us. I wasn’t born here but this is home and where we raised
our boys,” said Mahan. “I look forward to representing the First Ward, and working with the Council
and administration, in these exciting times.”
