Franklin City Council was recently tasked with selecting a new city manager.

We’d like to go on record and state that they made the right choice.

Deciding on Amanda Jarratt, the former president and CEO of Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc., was a no-brainer for the position. Few people have more insight into the workings of Franklin’s government and the challenges the city faces, and she has worked side-by-side with City Council to resolve many of them. She is widely respected by local, regional and statewide officials for her work in the economic development field. She did an outstanding job as our lead for economic development, often times with one — and sometimes two — hands figuratively tied behind her back.

As the new city manager, there will still be many obstacles to growth that need to be overcome, but no one is more qualified to understand what those obstacles are than she. The next head of FSEDI will have a much easier job because she will be out front clearing the way.

We expect bright days ahead for the City of Franklin, and Western Tidewater as a whole, with Mrs. Jarratt at the helm of city government. We wish her, and her colleagues, all the best as they chart a new course for the city.