Lavonia Elects New Councilman

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The City of Lavonia has a new city councilman.

He is Courtney Umbehant, director of the Lavonia Chapel of Strickland Funeral Home.

Umbehant beat out challenger local businesswoman Nora Chambers in a special election Tuesday for the Lavonia Post 1 City Council seat.

The new Lavonia councilman said his first priority is to work with the rest of the council members to find a new city manager.

“It’s very important we choose a manager who will be able to lead the City of Lavonia into the future and will be able to deal with changes ten and 15 years from now,” he said.

Umbehant said he is also concerned about getting young people involved in the future of Lavonia and adds that he would like to see more venues for young people to go to in town, especially the teens.

He also said he will work to ensure that economic growth continues in Lavonia.

Also, Umbehant said he will work to encourage more development around the Exit 173 interchange at Interstate 85.

Umbehant will fill the unexpired term of the late City Councilman Don Canady, who passed away in April.