Editor: Updated at 8:05 a.m. to correct Cynthia Pearson vote totals.

Jason Reeves will be back for four more years as the mayor of Troy after defeating challengers Raymond Sexton and Olanda Hardy in Tuesday’s election.

According to uncertified results, Reeves received 2,203 votes, which was 70.8 percent of votes cast. Sexton finished second with 568 votes, 18.3 percent, and Hardy third with 339 votes, 10.9 percent.

“I’m grateful for everyone coming out and supporting me,” Reeves said. “I’m honored to continue serving the city and moving us forward. It’s gratifying that people in districts without a council race came out like they did to support me.”

Nearly 58 percent of votes for Reeves came from districts 2, 3 and 4, which did not have council races. He received 74.7 percent of votes cast in those districts.

Robert Jones finished with 51.8 percent of the vote to win the District 1 seat outright, narrowly avoiding a runoff. He received a total of 297 votes.

“That’s what we were hoping for,” Jones said of avoiding the runoff. “ We were prepared for one, but thank God there wasn’t one. The main thing is to be honest with the people and listen to them. That’s what I attribute the win to. I’m looking forward to working with the council.”

Matthew Jordan finished second with 87 votes, 15.2 percent. Mary Helen Collins finished right behind Jordan with 86 votes, 15 percent. Clarence Scott received 69 votes, 12 percent, and Anthony Jackson received 34 votes, 5.9 percent.

Incumbent Dejerilyn King Henderson narrowly defeated former councilwoman Wanda Moultry for the District 5 seat, bringing in a total of 288 votes for 52.1 percent of the vote. Moultry received 265 votes, 47.9 percent.

Henderson beat Moultry 250 to 206 at the polls, while Moultry closed the gap by beating Henderson 59 to 38 on absentee ballots. It wasn’t enough to defeat Henderson though.

“I feel like the people want a spokesperson in local government,” Henderson said. “I think they decided that I was the best spokesperson and representative because I seek an open, honest and transparent government.”

Moultry congratulated Henderson on the victory.

“We have to respect what people do,” Moultry said. “The process took place, and as long as everything was done right, that’s how it is.”

City Clerk Alton Starling said that voter turnout for the election was 27 percent.

 

Brundidge mayor race heads to runoff

 

Byron Gaynor ran his campaign for the District 4 seat on the Brundidge City Council based on the need for change in city government. Gaynor will be a part of that change.

Gaynor defeated incumbent Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage 133 to 73 for the District 4 council seat in Tuesday’s municipal election.

Ramage had elected not to run for the mayor’s position but opted to seek a seat on the council.

Gaynor thanked his constituents for their support and pledged to work diligently for District 4 and all of Brundidge.

“This has been a long time coming,” Gaynor said. “We’ve need a change to bring new ideas to the council and upward movement in the city. I never back away from a challenge and welcome the opportunity to work with the mayor, the council and the people of Brundidge to make our city an even better place.”

Gaynor said it will take the entire community working together for a common goal to make positive changes in the city.

“I think this election showed that people are ready for a change and are willing to do what has to be done to grow our city,” he said. “We’ve got to focus on growth in our downtown and provide recreational activities for our young people. We a lot to do and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Six residents threw their hats in the mayor’s race with 938 votes cast.

Cynthia Pearson topped all candidates with 41.9 percent of the votes, or 293 votes. Isabell Boyd received 34.96 percent, or 238 votes. Pearson and Boyd are apparently headed to an October 4 runoff pending the final tally, which will include the provisional votes. The unofficial number of provisional votes is 12.

Pearson said it’s time to get back to work.

“My people came out and voted,” she said. “I had the most votes of any candidate. But I’ll get back out and get to work again.”

Boyd thanked those who voted for her and said she will work hard to garner the votes she needs to be the next mayor of Brundidge.

“I’m blessed to still be in the race and I thank those who gave me this opportunity,” she said. “This is my town. But more importantly, this is our town. Being the mayor of Brundidge is not a one man show. We must all ban together to do the things that need to be done to move forward. I am dedicated to seeing that happen.”

In the mayoral race, Lawrence Bowden had 135 votes, Charlie Harris, 125, Johnny Ross 38 and Jamie Powell, 9.

In the race for the Brundidge District 5 seat, Chris Foster tallied 82 votes to James Jones’ 60 votes. Ira Lampley received 49 votes. All are newcomers to the political arena.

Foster and Jones will be candidates for a runoff for that position.

Foster expressed appreciation to those who cast votes for him.

“This was my first time running for public office and it’s been a great experience,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot and it’s good to still be in the race. I’ll get back out and talk to people and meet people that I might not have gotten to see. I’ve got to re-interview for the job.”

Brundidge officials said 12 provisional ballots were cast in the election. Canvassing will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, and the results will be certified then.