By Michael Butler

With the Aug. 26 municipal election drawing near, two candidates are vying for the mayor’s seat. Tallassee voters will have the option of current Mayor Sarah Hill or Joey Wigington.

Hill was appointed on July 1, 2022, replacing Johnny Hammock. Hill became the city’s first female mayor. She had served on the city council since 2016. Wiginton publicly announced his intentions to run for the office in February.

Tallassee has had 21 mayors since its incorporation in 1908. There have been four different mayors in the 2000s.

Bobby Payne was first elected as mayor in 1988. He served six different terms, more than any other Tallassee mayor. In all, Payne spent 36 years in office on the council and as mayor.

George McCain unseated Payne in 2008 after 20 years as the head of the city. Payne defeated McCain in a rematch in 2012. Johnny Hammock was elected to two terms in 2016 and 2020 but stepped down in 2022 leading to Hill’s appointment.