By Taylor Boyd
Erica Cipko, who ran unopposed in the 2020 election, will begin her four-year term on the Stuart Town Council at the Jan. 20 meeting
Cipko, a legal secretary for attorney Christopher Corbett, will replace Leon Puckett, who served on the council from 2013 to 2020.
Cipko also handles real estate closings at Schneider & Williams, P.C.
“So, during the week I kind of split my time to do real estate closings at both offices,” she said, adding that she decided to seek the council position about a year and a half ago to help improve the town.
“I knew the town of Stuart was going to be my home and I might as well put my two cents in and try and make it better,” she said. Among the younger council members, Cipko said she also wanted to use her voice and opinions to help Stuart residents.
One of her goals is creating more sidewalks in Stuart, particularly on Patrick Avenue, around the Cotton Mill Apartments, and other high-volume foot traffic areas.
“We have a significant number of citizens that live there (Cotton Mill Apartments), and walking along the side of the road, even here in town, is probably not as safe as it could be. Sidewalks would be a really great thing,” she said.
Cleaning up town roads also is on her list, according to Cipko, who added that includes roadways flanked by derelict buildings, “homes or properties that let things get a little too disorderly.”
She also wants to make zoning ordinances more readily available to residents and get the clocktower in Downtown Stuart working again. “I think that’s very necessary since it’s a really cool piece here in town,” she said, and added she also wants to fix issues with the town’s streetlights.
“Our streetlights are beautiful, they’re just not working at night sometimes,” she said.
Cipko said some of her ideas come from working on Main Street and living in town.
“Some things are as small as seeing if the trash truck route could be turned around” to help keep the roads clear, Cipko said, adding she does not have large projects, like the council’s current wastewater treatment plant plan, on her list. But she has ideas for recreational activities and more collaborations. She wants to bring things to the town that COVID-19 stopped, “like the first Friday events and a few more partnerships that would be beneficial to the citizens, the town, the county, and the surrounding areas.”
Cipko said her background as a legal secretary will help her in the new role.
“My job is being a secretary, and my specific roles and specialties are real estate and estate work. I think it’s essential to understand the deeds, and the zoning, so I think that would be a beneficial piece to serving on the council,” she said, adding her background also will assist help with research to benefit the town with “respect to property owners and things needed to be addressed there.”
She said she wants anyone with ideas to speak with her.
“I’m new to this role, but I have a passion for the Town of Stuart and Patrick County, and hope that anyone should feel free to talk with me about ideas that they have. If it’s anything that I can bring to the current council, and we can get done, that would be great,” Cipko said, adding she wants to see Patrick County and the Town of Stuart flourish.
Cipko obtained her EMT certification, Firefighter I and II certification, and currently runs rescue calls with the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department. In 2019, she completed and taught her first EMT basic course, and is currently serving as president of the Patrick County Young Professionals. She was previously on the Patrick County Chamber Board and said community involvement is close to her heart.
Cipko has been taking courses in EMS and Fire training. She also is working to improve her real estate and legal knowledge. She enjoys camping, traveling locally, kayaking, and visiting breweries in her free time. The family enjoys camping and going to music festivals, particularly FloydFest, Front Porch Fest, and Rooster Walk.
Born in Charlotte, N.C. and raised in the Ararat area since she was two, Cipko graduated from Patrick County High School in 2008 and attended Longwood University, where she earned a B.S. in biology. She originally planned on a medical career but accepted a position as a legal secretary at Corbett’s office. Corbett, her stepfather, also serves as attorney for the council. Her mother, Karen Corbett, manages Tractor Supply.
Cipko has lived on Main Street since 2015.
