Voters in Ragland were at the polls early Tuesday as the mayor’s seat and the District 4 council seat were up for grabs. Incumbent Lanis White was elected to serve another four years as mayor while Tim McKinney will be the new councilman in District 4.
Voters from around St. Clair County took to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in municipal races. Results are broken down below by municipality, in alphabetical order.
ARGO
Mayor Paul Jennings was the only incumbent to retain his seat for the next four years.
The incumbent narrowly won his bid for re-election Tuesday, with 306 votes, against Hudson Harris’ 277.
“I’d like to thank everybody that came out and voted,” Jennings said. “We didn’t have great turnout – less than 600, from what I understand. I think the weather had a lot to do with the low numbers.
“But the people have spoken, and we’ll go forward. We’ve got a total of 6, and we’ll canvass the votes. Every four years we go through this and it never gets easy.”
Harris was thankful for the support he received during the election.
“I’d like to thank all the people that got out and voted in the weather we had, and showed that they were eager to support the candidate they were for,” Harris said. “I appreciate the people that got out and supported me. Hopefully in four years we can do it again and the outcome will be different.”
Incumbents in other races weren’t as fortunate — council members George Howell (Place 2), Steve Medori (Place 3) and Bill Leake (Place 5) all lost their bids for reelection. Scott M. Como (2), Bill Rutledge (3) and Ann Brown (5) will serve until 2016.
Councilman Herschel Phillips (Place 4) and newcomer Betty Bradley (Place 1) ran unopposed.
Mayor
Paul Jennings: 306
Hudson Harris: 277
Council Place 1
Betty Bradley: unopposed
Council Place 2
Scott M. Como: 321
George Howell: 256
Council Place 3
W.D. (Bill) Rutledge Jr.: 293
Steve Medori: 287
Council Place 4
Herschel Phillips: unopposed
Council Place 5
Ann Brown: 301
William L. “Bill” Leake: 284
ASHVILLE
Incumbent Robert McKay will remain mayor of Ashville. In a close race, McKay gained 287 votes while challenger Mike Sheffield had 251 votes.
Efforts to reach McKay were unsuccessful.
In place 2, there will be a runoff between Cliff Roberts and Charles A. Tipton, They both had 155 votes. Edward Roscoe Lane had 109 votes, while Jalene Peaspanen had 114 votes.
In Place 3, there will be a runoff between Adam Abernathy and Benjamin Bothwell. Abernathy had 215 votes while Bothwell had 144 points. Howard Smith had 121 votes while Timothy W. Richardson had 46 votes.
In Place 4, incumbent Willie B. Turner was upended by Derrick Mostella. Mostella gained 320 votes to 200 votes for Turner.
Mayor
Robert McKay: 287
Mike Sheffield: 251
Place 1
Jimmy Hollander: unopposed
Place 2
Cliff Roberts: 155
Charles A. Tipton: 155
Jalene Peaspanen: 114
Edward Roscoe Lane: 109
Place 3
Adam Abernathy: 215
Benjamin Bothwell: 144
Howard Smith: 121
Timothy W. Richardson 46
Place 4
Derrick Mostella: 320
Willie B. Turner: 200
Place 5
Charles Williams: unopposed
LEEDS
Elections in the city will continue another six weeks in three different races. Runoff elections were declared in the races for mayor and council Places 4 and 5.
In the mayor’s race, David Miller and incumbent Eric Patterson finished first and second among four candidates. Miller received 927 votes, to Patterson’s 611. Candidates Jim Atkinson and Johnny Kile received 492 votes and 399, respectively.
“I think we’re going to do it,” Miller said. “I was very happy that we not only got in the runoff, but that we got in it with a good margin. So we’re gearing up for the next six weeks and we’re going to work hard.
“I’ve had a lot of people pounding on the ground, people making phone calls. I think the community is ready for a change.”
Attempts to reach Patterson were unsuccessful at press time.
Two other council races will continue until Oct. 9, as well. In the race for the seat in District 4, Kelly Washburn and Craig Wadsworth finished in a virtual dead heat, with 156 votes and 154, respectively. Incumbent Charlotte Earnest received 118 votes.
A runoff will also be necessary in District 5, where DeVoris Ragland received 179 votes, while Jack Courson garnered 123. Candidates Gerald Clayton and David Crabb received 17 and 16 votes, respectively.
In other races, Kenneth Washington retained his District 1 seat by a 231-104 margin; Eric Turner defeated incumbent Ross Bartee 341-273 in District 2; and Johnny Dutton defeated incumbent Susan Carswell, 363-263.
Mayor
David Miller: 927
Eric Patterson: 611
Jim Atkinson: 492
Johnny Kile: 399
District 1
Ken Washington: 231
Toney Abernathey: 104
District 2
Eric Turner: 341
Ross Bartee: 273
District 3
Johnny Dutton: 363
Susan Carswell: 263
District 4
Kelly Washburn: 156
Craig Wadsworth: 154
Charlotte Earnest: 118
District 5
DeVoris Ragland: 179
Jack Courson: 123
Gerald Clayton: 17
David Crabb: 16
MARGARET
There will be a new mayor in Margaret, as Isaac Howard defeated incumbent Jeff Wilson 260-223.
Howard said he wanted to take the town and progress further, get the financial stability in order and get some new businesses coming to town.
“I want to thank all the people who voted for me and supported me,” Howard said. “I look forward to the next four years.”
Wilson said it has been a good 20 years.
“I would like to thank the town for the years they gave me,” Wilson said. “This is where I was born, and this is where I’ll die. The people have spoken.”
In the District 1 council race, incumbent James Chapman defeated Yvonne Gann. Chapman had 90 votes to 52 votes for Gann. In District 2, incumbent Charles Hicks defeated John Studdard 40-17. In District 5, incumbent Bonnie Voss defeated Jonathan Ray 46-38.
Mayor
Isaac Howard: 260
Jeff Wilson: 223
District 1
James Chapman: 90
Yvonne Gann: 52
District 2
Charles Hicks: 40
John Studdard: 17
District 3
Daryl McIntyre: unopposed
District 4
Stephen Perry: unopposed
District 5
Bonnie Voss: 46
Jonathan Ray: 38
MOODY
Mayor Joe Lee won another term as mayor in Tuesday’s election, defeating challenger Fred Moody 713-56.
“The city of Moody is moving in a direction that is positive,” said Lee. “We’ve got a lot of things happening in the city. I think it’s the best interest of the citizens that Joe Lee is the mayor for the next four years, because we want to continue moving forward. We’ve got some major announcements in the next month or so, and I think people will be pleased with what they hear.
“I just want to thank everybody that came out and helped me today. We had a team put together that supported Joe Lee for re-election. I want to thank all those folks that got their people out to get Joe Lee re-elected.”
Efforts to reach Moody were unsuccessful at press time.
In Moody’s only other race, Jeff Green narrowly defeated Larry Golden for the vacant Place 4 seat on the council. Green earned 617 votes, to Golden’s 614.
Mayor
Joe Lee: 713
Fred Moody: 565
Place 1
Linda Crowe: unopposed
Place 2
Lynn Taylor: unopposed
Place 3
Phillip Deason: unopposed
Place 4
Jeff Green: 617
Larry Golden: 614
Place 5
Ricky Parker: unopposed
ODENVILLE
In Odenville, the two incumbents will remain on the city council. In Place 2, Jeff Foreman received 191 votes to 98 for Rita Buchanan.
In Place 5, Don Smith tallied 201 votes and defeated John Boshell, who received 87 votes.
Mayor
Rodney (Buck) Christian: unopposed
Place 1
Ed Brasher: unopposed
Place 2
Jeff Foreman: 191
Rita Buchanan: 98
Place 3
Jimmy Bailey: unopposed
Place 4
Brenda Riddle: unopposed
Place 5
Don Smith: 201
John Boshell: 87
PELL CITY
Adam Stocks and Joe Funderburg will face off in the Oct. 9 runoff for mayor of Pell City after the two candidates garnered the most votes in Tuesday’s three-man race.
Stocks, who served as mayor from 2004-2008, collected the most votes in Tuesday’s municipal election.
Stocks received 801 unofficial votes to capture a spot in the runoff for mayor.
Joe Funderburg collected 637 unofficial votes in Tuesday’s election, while Ren Wheeler finished with 496 votes.
Council members Jay Jenkins, James McGowan and Dot Wood will return to the council after winning their respective district races outright.
Jenkins captured the District 1 council spot with 158 votes. Deborah Howard received 75 votes and Terry Lee received 62.
In the District 2 race, McGowan won convincingly with 198 votes. Challenger Byron Gover received 86 votes.
Wood received 190 votes, while challenger Richard Nixon collected 71 votes in the District 3 race.
In a close council race, Greg Jacobik and Sharon Thomas will face off in the runoff for the District 4 council seat. Jacobik collected 181 votes, Thomas received 170 votes and Wallace Bromberg followed closely with 167 votes.
Terry Templin will serve as the new District 5 council representative. Templin received 351 votes to Phillip Roberson’s 204 votes.
In one of the closest races Tuesday, Jeff Jones defeated incumbent Norman Wilder by a mere 15 votes for the District 5 school board spot. Jones received 292 votes to Wilder’s 277 votes.
Joe Sawyer was the District 1 school board winner. Sawyer received 169 votes to Brittney Smith’s 120 votes.
The unofficial results include all absentee ballots. There were 13 provisional ballots in Tuesday’s municipal election in Pell City.
Only about one-fourth of the 8,144 registered voters in Pell City voted in Tuesday’s election.
The City Council will convene at noon, Sept. 4, for the purpose of canvassing the municipal election results. The canvassing will take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall and the meeting is open to the public.
The unofficial count in Tuesday’s municipal election were as follows:
Mayor
Adam Stocks 801
Joe Funderburg 637
Ren Wheeler 496
District 1 Council
Jay Jenkins 158
Deborah Howard 75
Terry Lee 62
District 2 Council
James McGowan 198
Byron Gover 86
District 3 Council
Dot Wood 190
Richard Nixon 71
District 4 Council
Greg Jacobik 181
Sharon Thomas 170
Wallace Bromberg 167
District 5 Council
Terry Templin 351
Phillip Roberson 204
District 1 School Board
Joe Sawyer 169
Brittney Smith 120
District 5 School Board
Jeff Jones 292
RAGLAND
Incumbent Lanis White will continue to be mayor as he received 251 votes while challenger Greg Estes had 189 votes.
“I am just humbled by it,” White said. “I knew I had a hard road. I went through a lot of stuff that was not true and just had to suck it up and endure it. It’s hard to fight lies. People kept encouraging me, and I was able to rise above it.”
Estes said he wishes Lanis well.
“I congratulate him, and wish him good luck,” Estes said.
In the District 4 council race, Tim McKinney defeated Johnny Phillips. McKinney had 60 votes while Phillips had 49.
Mayor
Lanis White: 251
Greg Estes: 189
District 1
Carlton Byers: unopposed
District 2
Edna Daffron: unopposed
District 3
Richard Bunt: unopposed
District 4
Tim McKinney: 60
Johnny Phillips: 49
District 5
Leeann Coker Ford: unopposed
RIVERSIDE
Riverside Mayor Rusty Jessup was re-elected, garnering almost 74 percent of the 433 votes cast Tuesday. Jessup received 320 votes and 7 absentee ballot votes to win his third term as mayor.
“This victory represents that the citizens of Riverside like the direction that our city is going in and want to stay the course,” Jessup said. “Our city is not without its problems, but we have a plan and a desire to work through those problems in these next four years.”
Jessup said he is excited about the new administration and what it will bring to the city’s progress.
“I really appreciate the support of the citizens who worked closely with me to win this election,” he said. “They are the real backbone of Riverside.”
Unofficial returns Tuesday night were:
Mayor
Rusty Jessup: 327
David Wright: 115
District 1:
Jimmy Hollander: unopposed
District 2:
Rachelle Painter: 65
Frank Riddle: 107
District 3:
Bill Cantley: unopposed
District 4:
Johnny Osborn: unopposed
District 5:
Kenny Womack: unopposed
SPRINGVILLE
In the lone election for city council, incumbent Herbert Toles retained his seat in District 1, defeating Ronnie Newsome, 52-29.
Mayor
William Isley: unopposed
District 1
Herbert Toles: 52
Ronnie Newsome: 29
District 2
Hugh Marlin: unopposed
District 3
Wayne Tucker: unopposed
District 4
Katrina Hennings: unopposed
District 5
Chip Martin: unopposed
District 6
David Jones: unopposed
District 7
Larry Jones: unopposed
STEELE
The Town of Steele will not know who its mayor is until next week sometime. The closest race for mayor took place in Steele as John D. Wilcox collected 195 votes while Terry Wicks had 193 votes. There are five provisional votes that have yet to be counted, and will not be counted until next week by the St. Clair County Board of Registrars.
As for the council seats, two incumbents were defeated.
In Place 2, Kathy A. Rhodes defeated incumbent J. Wayne Smith. Rhodes garnered 264 votes while Smith had 123 votes.
In Place 4, Joseph Hutchins gained 220 votes and defeated incumbent Robert Barnes, who had 166 votes.
In Place 1, Richard A. Reynolds defeated Ron Knight 222 to 166.
In Place 3. Incumbent Roger Adams tallied 240 votes to beat Charles Simmons, who had 143 votes.
Place 5 is the only place where there will be a run-off, and it will be between incumbent Jody Free and challenger Henry Whisenant Sr. Free had 119 votes to 156 for Whisenant. Ronald Dorough had 18 votes, Jonathan Garrard had 11 votes, and Bill Payne had 85 votes.
Mayor
John D. Wilcox: 195
Terry Wicks: 193
Place 1
Richard A. Reynolds: 222
Ron Knight: 166
Place 2
Kathy A. Rhodes: 264
J. Wayne Smith: 123
Place 3
Roger Adams: 240
Charles Simmons: 143
Place 4
Joseph Hutchins: 220
Robert Barnes: 166
Place 5
Henry Whisenant Sr.: 156
Jody Free: 119
Bill Payne: 85
Ronald Dorough: 18
Jonathan Garrard: 11
— Staff writers David Atchison, Elsie Hodnett, Gary Hanner and Will Heath all contributed to this report.
