Boyd elected mayor; District 5 too close to call
Published 9:40 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Isabell Boyd is the new mayor of Brundidge after defeating Cynthia Pearson 553 to 446 in the runoff on Tuesday.
“I’m elated,” Boyd said.” It’s an honor that the people have chosen me to represent them. I want to thank God for giving me the strength to do this. I also want to thank my constituents, all of them, and the people who have helped me during the campaign.”
Boyd won at the polls and with absentee voters. Boyd received 368 votes at the polls, while Pearson received 289 votes. Boyd received 185 absentee votes and Pearson received 157.
“I want to thank everybody for voting,” Pearson said. “I appreciate it more than they’ll ever know. I wish Ms. Boyd well.”
The mayoral seat is set, but officials say the District 5 race is still too close to call.
Chris Foster received a total of 116 votes while James Jones received 110 votes. According to Linda Faust, assistant city manager, seven provisional ballots were cast that cannot be counted until next Tuesday.
With a mere six votes separating Foster and Jones, the race cannot be decided until the provisional ballots are canvassed.
Jones would need all seven provisional ballots in order to win the election. If Foster receives one vote from the provisional ballots, he will win the race.
If Jones receives 6 votes from the provisional ballots and the other ballot is from outside District 5, the runoff could end in a tie.
According to the Alabama code of law, the council would then cast votes between the two candidates. If that vote ended in a tie, the probate judge would decide the winner by lot.
“It was close, you know,” Jones said. “That gives you the idea that the people who voted made up their own mind and voted their conscience. However it comes out, I’ll accept it.”
Chris Foster could not be reached for comment by publishing time.