Councilwoman Toyia Tucker defends District 4 Seat, District 10 heads to runoff
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)— With Election Tuesday wrapping up in Georgia, WRBL is following two local nonpartisan races on the ballot. One headed towards a runoff, another decided.
District 10 at-large seat
The race for the citywide seat vacated by John House last year heads to a runoff.
Four candidates were vying for this seat – Businessman John Anker, Realtor Travis Chambers, Pastor Dr. Patrick Leonard, and Army retiree Rocky Marsh.
Anker ran unsuccessfully for mayor two years ago. Chambers also had a failed campaign when he attempted to unseat Debbie Buckner in a state House race.
Both Anker and Chambers head to a runoff.
“I guess it’s a blessing. It’s not what I wanted. I wanted to win faster, not easier,” Anker told WRBL Tuesday. “But I’m ready to go to work. I’m ready to start doing the people’s business. I’ve got energy, I’ve got passion to serve, to continue on. So, I’ll run the race. My legs are still good.”
WRBL spoke with Chambers twice Tuesday night, both times he declined to comment. Chambers’ Campaign Chairman, Cameron Bean, spoke with WRBL shortly after all of the precincts had reported Tuesday.
“We led by 1,000 votes so we need to focus on getting our support that are predominately for Travis Chambers to go back to the polls on June 18. I think the community at large has decided they support Travis Chambers, so we want to get the voters to return to the polls.”
The runoff is slated for June 18.
District 4
Early Wednesday morning, official votes solidified a win for one Columbus councilwoman looking to defend her seat.
Councilor Toyia Tucker defended her District 4 seat in a re-election campaign against retired law enforcement officer Tyrone Thomas.
Tucker won with 52% of the vote. WRBL caught up with Tucker to learn her reaction to earning another four years on council.
“To my constituents, thank you. I appreciate you. I tell people from the bottom of my heart; this is how I feel about my district. My district are my children. The other districts are my nieces and nephews, meaning, Councilor Crabb and Councilor Davis, they’re the nieces and nephews,” Tucker said. “And we care about our family. So, I care. I love and care for District 4, just like I love and care for my kids.”
Tucker’s challenger, Thomas, nodded his hat to Tucker on the victory.
“I would [like to] congratulate Councilor Toyia Tucker on the victory, and if there’s anything I can do to help her while she’s in office, I’m going to step up and help her,” Thomas said. “Like I say, it’s not about me. It’s not about her. It’s about the people of Columbus, Georgia.”
Tucker says she looks forward to continuing to represent her constituents of District 4.
“The word has been continued, ‘continue to serve us, continue to advocate for us.’ It’s been a lot of great things that have occurred since I’ve been in the seat. And I’m just about to kind of spotlight what happened today with me adding $4.7 million to the budget to give pay increases for our public safety individuals,” Tucker said. “And that was the sheriff, and also the fire department because as you know, we have just the CPD last year.”
Tucker says her four years in office flew by, and she looks forward to building on the groundwork she has helped set in place during the next term.
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