By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–After the votes were tallied in the Helena municipal election on Aug. 23, Laura Joseph defeated Tangee Edwards by an unofficial count of 936-387 in the Helena City Council Place No. 4 race.

This was Joseph’s first time running for office and will replace Leslie Bartlett, who previously served in Place No. 4 on the Helena Council.

Joseph anxiously awaited the posting of the results outside of the Helena Sports Complex and shortly after 7 p.m., Joseph embraced her daughter and celebrated when she found out she would be serving on the council for the first time.

“I am just so excited!” said Joseph. “I’m just grateful that I am going to have four years to help the city. I love Helena so much and I’m so glad that people have believed in me and given me the opportunity to be able to do that. It’s just a special thing.”

Joseph currently serves on a number of different organizations and foundations within Helena including the Helena Library Foundation and the Jane B. Holmes Library Board, Helena Beautification Board, the Helena Arts Council, Helena Business Association, serves as communications director for the Shelby County Republican Party and more.

Joseph said she wants to continue the success of the city and continue to see Helena grow in the future.

“We have a great thing going and I want to work to help make Helena the kind of place where you want to live and you want to raise your family and the kind of place that when your kids get grown, that they want to come back to,” said Joseph. “I want to make sure that our community stays strong.”

Joseph lives in the Old Cahaba neighborhood with her husband of nine years, TJ, and their two children: Anna Kate and John Marshall. The Joseph family attends Riverchase United Methodist Church.