Beaumont voters call for big changes, while incumbents retain power in New Augusta
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From Staff Reports
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Voters in Beaumont in New Augusta went to the polls on Tuesday to elect their town leaders for the next four years.
In New Augusta, incumbents performed well on Tuesday as all four current members of the New Augusta Board of Alderman ran for re-election and were able to hold on to their seats. And, incumbent Mayor Steve Spicer was unchallenged in his re-election bid.
According to certified results, Tammy Bolton led the ticket in New Augusta, claiming 104 votes to secure re-election. Pamela Brewer followed closely with 98 votes, while John Corey Proctor and Billy ‘Wayne’ Murphy Jr. kept their seats on the board after securing 93 and 85 votes, respectively. Rounding out the top 5 and securing the lone open seat on the board was Robin Hinton Hulsey, who landed 75 votes.
Curtis R. Gates and Scott Phillips each landed 39 votes in losing efforts on Tuesday, while Janet V. Gallaspy received 38. Belinda Perryman Tatum (31 votes) and Kade Lewis (16) rounded out the vote tally.
While New Augusta voters voted to keep their current leadership mostly intact, voters in Beaumont did not. Voters there had a host of options for their next mayor and members of the board of alderman and they voted for change in all but one position.
Incumbent Mayor Scotty L. Dailey, whose term has seen its share of drama, drew a host of challengers for the town’s top executive position. Jaime Chambless ended up winning the 5-person race, claiming 108 votes. Current alderwoman Tammie McLain was a close second, but will be out of municipal government this next term after coming in with 94 votes. Rounding out the ticket were Dailey (32 votes), Richard McLendon (22) and Daniel Anderson (5).
Chambless will have a new board to work with when the new term starts as Dale Carnahan was the only incumbent alderman to win re-election.
Former Perry County Supervisor Bobby Ray Bolton led the ticket in the aldermen’s race with 175 votes. Frankie Mathis won a seat on the board with 162 votes on Tuesday, followed by Carnahan (148 votes), Minnie Mizell (126) and Patrick Thomas (117). Others on the ticket (and their vote totals from Tuesday) were incumbents Chris Bolton (91) and Wanda Lawrence (97), Glenda Bolton (98), Hope Freeman (111), Beverly Hesterman (110)
Voters in Richton chose their representatives in April in the Republican Primary as no candidates qualified for a Democratic Primary. James Kitchens, Keith Evans, Todd Lee, Ed Hearn and Brenda Phillips:, the five current members of the Richton Board of Aldermen earned re-election to their posts during the Republican Primary earlier this year, fending off three other candidates by healthy margins. Mayor Michael ‘Bo’ Ruffin was unopposed in his re-election bid and will serve another 4-year term in office.
The newly elected town officials will begin their new terms in office on July 1.
