Published: June 09, 2009 09:02 pm      

Voters determine council, mayoral races in region

ATHENS — Mayor Robert M. Richardson Jr., of Athens was unopposed for re-election Tuesday, and as a result will retain the seat he has held for 26 years.

“We’ll see how the next two years go,” Richardson said. Richardson was elected Athens mayor in 1983, and has been reelected every year since then. “It’s always been my plan to keep it simple and stick with the basics.

“Our employees run the town,” Richardson said. “We meet twice a month for two hours. We have people who make good decisions every day. We’re fortunate to have good employees who keep the town on track.”

In unofficial, pre-canvassed vote totals released Tuesday night by Athens election officials, Richardson received 59 votes and both incumbent council members, Joe Manzo and Paul Hodges will return to office with 62 and 54 votes respectively. Challenger Rodger McKinley received 17 votes, in unofficial returns according to Mary Lu Geiger, who said a total of 74 voters cast votes in the election including one write-in vote for Doug Becker for mayor.

Bramwell, Matoaka and Oakvale election officials could not be reached for results at press time on Tuesday night.

In Anawalt town council will select a new mayor to replace the late Eva Sue Rash who died last month while still in office. Wanona Paul ran unopposed for recorder.

The unofficial pre-canvassed totals included six candidates for the five vacant town council positions with incumbents Barbara Wooldridge receiving 30 votes, Donal Hastings receiving 31 votes, Doris Revels receiving 27 votes, Steve Gaminde receiving 20 votes and a tie for the fifth council seat with Joycie Sargent and write-in candidate Ray Gilley each receiving 19 votes in unofficial, pre-canvassed vote totals.

In Davy, all incumbents were running for reelection including Mayor Kenneth Gentry who was re-elected with 21 votes, recorder Alice Walker who was reelected with 21 votes, and incumbent council members, Charlie Cornwell and Bob McGovern who each received 22 votes, Jane Gentry who received 20 votes, Roger Cox who received 20 votes as well as write-in candidate, Ryan Sizemore who received 15 votes were elected in unofficial pre-canvassed vote totals.

Iaeger election totals were not available at press deadline Tuesday night.

In Bradshaw, incumbent Mayor Lawrence Crigger held office with 61 votes, while his opponent, Charles W. Click received 46 votes, in unofficial, pre-canvassed totals. Sheila Muncy was unopposed for town recorder, and received 84 votes out of the 114 votes cast in a busy election day.

Rick Garlic led a slate of five incumbents who were reelected. Garlic received 69 votes, followed by Randy Osborne and Al Carolla, both tied at 62 votes each, Ruthie Matney with 60 votes and Bryan Pack, who received 57 votes, in pre-canvassed unofficial vote totals. Write-in candidate Avery Lynch received 28 votes in unofficial, pre-canvassed totals.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com