Low number of voters determine May 4 elections
May 6—The May 4 elections for local representation on city councils and school boards in Cherokee County were determined by a low number of voters, according to the unofficial results reported.
In Jacksonville, Larry K. Burney challenged Rob Gowin for the District 4 council seat. The election, limited to residents of District 4, resulted in a total of 54 ballots cast. Gowin was re-elected by a vote of 49 to 5.
Three places of the Rusk City Council were on the May 4 ballot — District 3, District 4 and District 5 — to which the incumbents were re-elected.
The ballot counts for District 3 were 26 votes (57.78%) for Zack McNew and 19 (42.22%) for Martin Holsome.
In District 4, Martha Neely collected the majority of votes with 22 (53.66%), followed by Jack Woody, 18 votes (43.90%) and J.D. Martinez, one vote (2.44%).
Frances Long led with 64 votes (53.78%) in District 5, trailed by Chucky Pate with 52 votes (43.70%) and Shawn Solly, three votes (2.52%).
In Alto, three at-large positions were on the ballot for school board trustees.
The unofficial results were Tad Evans Scott, 456 votes (28.32%); Aaron Low, 415 votes (25.78%); Angela Hackney-Jefferson, 307 votes (19.07%); Greg Duplichain, 182 votes (11.30%); Tony Sevila, 135 votes (8.39%); Jeremy Jackson, 115 votes (7.14%).
Two incumbents, Scott and Low, will return to the board. Angela Hackney-Jefferson will replace Lee Pearman who retired. The three newly elected trustees will be sworn in during the May 13 meeting of the school board.
In New Summerfield, two at-large positions were on the May 4 ballot. Bryan Bolton and Jennifer Cole were the incumbents, with Scott Bragg also vying for a position on the board. The results were 23 votes (40.35%) for Cole, 19 votes (33.33%) for Bolton and 15 votes (26.32%) for Bragg.
Cole and Bolton will be sworn in at the May 13 meeting of the school board.
