By GINNY COOPER MCCARLEY / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO—The Montevallo City Council unanimously voted during an Aug. 25 meeting to appoint Jason Peterson to serve as the council representative for District 4 following the resignation of Don Hughes.

Hughes, who resigned during the council’s July 28 meeting, cited difficulties with his hearing as the cause of his resignation.

“I’m losing my hearing and I can’t hear anything that’s going on,” Hughes said following the council meeting, noting meetings were “aggravating and confusing” due to his loss of hearing.

Peterson, who will serve the remainder of Hughes’ term ending in November of 2016, works as a network administrator in the technology services division of the University of Montevallo.

“There are some great plans in motion to improve our city, but I feel we need to do more to attract small business and take advantage of our current assets,” Peterson said of his goals as a councilman in an Aug. 26 interview.

Peterson ran against Hughes in a runoff election for the District 4 seat in 2012, and decided to apply for the position following Hughes’ resignation due to a desire to have a voice in the community.

“Local government is a place where you can actually have a voice and can effect change where needed,” Peterson.