Rhonda Wood won a special election Tuesday evening for a Post 4 seat on the Oakwood City Council.
Wood defeated challenger Volley Collins with 58.53% of the vote with 100% of precincts reporting. 516 Oakwood residents cast their ballots in the race.
That follows the passing of late Post 4 City Councilman Dwight Wood in Sept. 2023. His passing left the seat vacant. Rhonda will fulfill the remainder of his term.
Rhonda called her win Tuesday night an emotional moment.
"I cried," Wood said. "It was happy tears. It's bittersweet. I'm not speechless that often, and I was speechless."
Rhonda said she has lived in Hall County since 1986, having graduated from Johnson High School and Lanier Technical College. She previously worked with Hall County Government but currently works in the insurance industry.
"I just want to keep the city family-oriented ... like every Christmas, there's a Christmas in the Park, just family things that I would love to continue and keep going forward," Rhonda said.
Rhonda said she has seen Oakwood's rapid expansion throughout the years.
"I never thought little Oakwood [would have] residential subdivisions building up everywhere you turn," Rhonda said. "Several of the residents that I have spoken to, they're not happy with it. I just want the residents to know that I will listen to them. A lot of things are out of the city council's control."
Rhonda said getting out on the campaign trail also gave her a perspective on how many residents don't attend city council meetings or get involved in the city's governmental process. She said she hopes to work to change that trend.
"I know a lot of people's lives are busy and people have a lot of things going on," Wood said. "Try to make it to the meetings, because that is where you will get all of the information, you will get why something is being done. That's where you will get your answers. I want to try my best to get them more involved."
