Vacant Common Council Seat Filled In Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — Summit's vacant Ward 1 seat on the Common Council has officially been filled.

Andrew Smith was sworn in during Tuesday night's Common Council meeting after being unanimously appointed by the council last month.

Smith is filling the vacancy left by former Councilmember Bob Pawlowski, who resigned earlier this year. He will serve the remainder of Pawlowski's term, which expires at the end of 2026.

Mayor Elizabeth Fagan administered the oath of office during the meeting and welcomed Smith to the dais.

"I'm thrilled that Andy is joining us on the dais," Fagan said. "He brings a deep and long-standing commitment to community service along with impressive credentials and extensive professional experience to successfully fill this position. I want to thank him for his willingness to serve and be a voice for residents."

Smith had already begun serving after the Common Council unanimously confirmed his appointment during its June 16 meeting. He was sworn in privately shortly afterward so he could immediately begin his duties, while Tuesday's ceremony marked his public swearing-in.

A Summit resident, Smith lives in the city with his wife and three children and has been active in the community for years. He served as co-chair of Summit's Memorial Day Parade for more than a decade, has served on the city's Board of Health and Department of Community Programs Advisory Board, and has volunteered as a youth baseball, basketball and flag football coach.

Outside of his community service, Smith is an attorney and co-founder of the Summit law firm Smith + Schwartzstein LLC. Before beginning his legal career, he served as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of captain.

More information about the Summit Common Council is available on the city's website.