BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Bristol, Tennessee City Council filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Mark Hutton.

Tuesday night, council members selected Sullivan County Commissioner Matt Slagle to fill the empty seat.

Slage said he is looking forward to serving the city.

“The initial step we’ll focus on is reviewing the current tax rate in the city,” Slagle stated. “If there are any immediate actions we can take, we will do so. As city residents are aware, they get tax notifications from both the county and the city. Everyone here felt the significant impact of the property tax hikes, so it’s crucial that we explore what can be done on the city’s end to ease the burden caused by these increased taxes.

Slagle will serve until the city’s next regular election in November 2026.