Following the resignation of fellow Democrat Josh Davis, Lee Clark assumed the oath of office last night to become Phillipsburg’s first African American councilman.

Running for a full term on in the general election, Clark filled a vacancy on the five-member, Republican-majority town council.

“The temporary post will last until the end of the year, when Davis’s term was to end,” according to LehighValleyLive.com.

The vote was unanimous.

“It is truly an honor and humbling to become Phillipsburg’s first African American representative in its 158 years,” Clark posted on Facebook. “Thank you to [Mayor] Stephen Ellis, Mayor for swearing me in tonight, the council, and my lovely mother for joining me on this amazing journey. I promise to serve the residents and first responders of Phillipsburg to the best of my abilities and work to push Phillipsburg forward.”

A resident of Phillipsburg for six years, Clark has worked at New Jersey LCV for two years and currently manages the organization’s bi-state community organizing program for its Delaware River Watershed initiative. After working on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential campaign, he began working as the Field Director for New Jersey LCV’s Green in ’17 campaign. An active member of the Phillipsburg community, Clark was a candidate for town council in 2017.