Kennett Square actor and business owner Michael Bertrando will serve as a Kennett borough council member following a special election last week, writes Jen Samuel for The Daily Local News.
In last Tuesday’s council meeting, Bertrando competed against seven candidates for a vacant council member seat. Existing council members voted in favor in a 4-2 vote.
The vacant seat comes after council member Julie Hamilton resigned from her position on Jan. 5.
Bertrando’s unique background as a small business owner and artist informed his bid for a council seat. An actor and filmmaker, he recently appeared in the HBO series Task, where he played an FBI agent and performed as star Mark Ruffalo’s stunt double.
While his creative career takes him across the country, Bertrando stays true to his Kennett roots. His family has owned Sam’s Sub Shop for eighty years, and he often works there serving sandwiches to the community.
About balancing a successful acting career with his hometown business, Bertrando said, “I’ve spent my career telling stories, and my best work is always rooted right here on State Street.”
Regarding his upcoming borough council term, he shared his plans to prioritize environmental transparency, particularly regarding development plans for the former National Vulcanized Fiber site. He also plans to advocate for more arts programming and facilities downtown, including a theatre in the municipal complex.
He will formally join the council in the meeting set for Feb. 2. As the only small business owner on the council, Bertrando hopes to remain open and accessible to the public to best serve the community he knows and loves.
Read more about Michael Bertrando and the Kennett resident’s upcoming borough council term in The Daily Local News.
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