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Payne tops McCain
By Michael Butler
Bobby Payne said the reason for his victory in the Tallassee mayor's race was four letters: W-O-R-K.
"We got out in February and started and didn't stop," Payne said. "We knocked on every door in Tallassee at least twice, maybe three times, some four. Nobody worked harder than we did. We deserved it. I frankly don't think the opposition worked hard enough. If you won't something go get it."
McCain was unable to make up any ground since August. He was behind by 101 votes then and lost by 106 votes in Tuesday's runoff.
Due to a malfunction in a machine at the National Guard Armory, 710 ballots had to be recounted making for a dramatic delay of over an hour. "That kind of got under my skin a little bit," Payne said. "I can't believe we had a box that didn't have the right maintenance on it. At least have your machines ready to go."
The slow returns at that box held up results on the closest race of the night, a rematch in City Council Ward 2. Heather Johnson, who defeated Hal Miller in 2008, made up a six vote deficit from August with a one vote win (132-131). However, there was one provisional vote that is being reviewed by the Board of Registrars, according to Tallassee city clerk Barbara Garnett.
The city council will be canvassing results and determining tiebreak procedures in a special meeting on Tuesday. In addition, the council will declare candidates with majority votes to elected offices and issue the certificates of election to those individuals at the meeting.
|
National Guard Armory |
East Tallassee Library |
Jordanville |
Absentees |
TOTAL |
Bobby
Payne
 |
337 |
220 |
165 |
56 |
778 |
George
McCain
 |
|
|
|
|
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In other races, Darryl Wilson beat Tim Gates by eight votes in the Ward 4 city council race (113-105), overcoming a 16 vote margin from August 28.
In Ward 5, Terrell Brown topped Dorothy Lynch's 90-73.
The biggest upset of the night came in Ward 7, David Stough edged long-time incumbent Gary Moore 131-122. Stough trailed by 21% in August.
In the race for Tallassee City School Board Ward 5, Donald "Rex" Ledbetter won by three votes over Blakely Ellis (80-77), who had one more vote than Ledbetter in the August election.
Payne, who served as mayor for 20 years until 2008, commented on the nature of politics. "This is a contact sport. It's a tough game. Don't get in it if you can't take just a little pressure."
The mayor and new council will take over on Nov. 5.
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