Beginning in January, there will be one new face in city government that makes up the Albany City Council and also the youngest member of the group when Brad Thrasher takes a seat with the city’s governing body.

Thrasher, age 37, is a life-long Albany resident and was successful in his first political run for office back in November. He will join five incumbent council members and Albany Mayor Nicky Smith.

Thrasher is a 1996 graduate of Clinton County High School and other than about an eight-year stint away from home, has lived here the remainder of his life. He joined the Army in 2000 and while in the service graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Clinical Laboratory Science.

After living briefly in Tennessee, Thrasher moved back home in 2008 but continued to work at Blood Assurance in Cookeville, Tennessee until 2009 when he took a laboratory technician job at nearby Wayne County Hospital in Monticello 16 months ago.

Thrasher said when he took the job closer to home, he had more time to do things he wanted to do, and one of those things was to run for office. “I always wanted to be able to be a voice for the people and help people whenever I can,” he said. “I was working 10 to 12 hours a day away from home, but now I’m able to do it.”

Thrasher sees some of the primary duties as a councilman is handling the budgets, helping each department in the city to see they have what they need to do their jobs, and helping people in the city with problems they may have, including ordinances that can be adopted to assist the community.

The new councilman says the biggest asset Albany has, in his opinion, is its citizens. “They are outgoing and honest people,” he said, adding, “that’s what makes it a great place to live.” He said in all the places he traveled while in the military, this is the place he always wanted to come back home to.

Thrasher admits that with council members terms being only two years, it isn’t much time to see a lot take place or a lot of changes and admits he has a lot of learning to do and information to gather to make informed decisions. “I hope to bring some new ideas, but a lot will be on a situation by situation basis,” he said.

“Being the only new face, I hope to learn a lot from the current council members. This is a great city and I hope to be a part of trying to make it even better,” said Thrasher.

The councilman-elect also feels it necessary and beneficial for the local governments, city and county fiscal court, to get along for both the city and county to prosper. “We need to work hand-in-hand, work for each other, not against each other,” he said

Thrasher said he thinks the council and mayor, as well as other local officials, will be good to work with and looks forward to getting to know them all better. “There may be some disagreements, but that’s part of being on a council.”

Thrasher thanked the voters for giving him the opportunity and said he would do his best to live up to their expectations. “I’m looking forward to getting started,” he said.

Thrasher and his wife, the former Jessica Hicks, have two children Raegan, age 10 and four-year-old Jacob, and are expecting number three in 2015.