News
In the News: Solid night for local incumbents
Posted on August 23, 2016
Originally published in the Franklin Free Press.
It was a good night for incumbents in local municipal elections, as mayors won reelection in Russellville and Phil Campbell, while the Littleville mayor finds himself in a runoff.
Russellville Mayor David Grissom received 75 percent of the vote, with 1189 votes, to 305 (19%) for Donnie Horton and 101 (6%) for Randy Bray.
In Russellville City Council District One, David Palmer earned 75 percent of the vote over challenger John Thorn’s 25 percent. Palmer finished with 406 votes to Thorn’s 135.
Russellville City Councilman William Nale, who represents District Two, will face challenger Judy Miller in the runoff election October 4th. Miller received 103 votes (38%) to Nale’s 98 (36%) and challenger Roney Murphy’s 69 votes (26%).
In Russellville District Three, Gary Cummings defeated two challengers and earned 66 percent of the vote. Cummings finished with 278 votes to 76 for Dwight Jackson (27%) and 18 votes for Roy Cornelison (7%).
District Four Councilman Lanny Hubbard just survived a challenge from former councilman Arthur Elliot and the two will face off in the October 4 runoff election. Elliot received 49.7 percent of the total vote, with 101 votes, to Hubbard’s 75 votes (36.9%) and Billy Patterson’s 27 votes (13%).
District Five Councilman Jamie Harris was reelected with 75 percent of the vote, surpassing challenger Brent Caldwell 228 votes to 75.
In Phil Campbell, Mayor Steve Bell defeated Vic Hawkins 131-65. In Place One, Michael McQuary bested Melissa Mohr 132-66. Danny Brown was unopposed in Place Two. Eddie Barton was reelected in Place Three, defeating Eddie Marbutt 103-96. Barton’s wife Rita was defeated in her bid for Place Four, as Lynn Landers won 105-96. In Place Five, Jim Cartee earned another term defeating challenger Phillip King 109-92.
In Littleville, challenger Scott Howard will face Mayor Gene Strait in the October 4 runoff. Howard earned 99 votes, Strait 74, Phillip Pace 18 and Eddie Wilson 12.
David McAnally was unopposed in Place One, as was Harold Malone in Place Three and Diana Young in Place Four. Incumbent Ronald Berry defeated Rodney McAnally, Jr., 107-84 in Place Two and Donald Pennington earned another term after holding off challenger Jared Ergle 108-80.
In Red Bay, where Mayor David Tiffin is not seeking reelection, Charlene Fancher and Mike Shewbart will face each other in the October 4th runoff. Fancher received 369 votes (45%), Shewbart 296 votes (36%) and Bobby Nelson 146 votes (19%).