Elections held in six cities
Elections were held in six municipalities over the summer.
A new mayor was elected in Sweetwater while Huntland votes turned down a measure to permit retail package stores in the town.
COWAN
A municipal election was held in Cowan on Aug. 7.
Incumbent Richard W. Hunt defeated challengers Dwayne E. Holman and Stephanie Sweeton to retain the mayoral seat. Hunt led the vote tally with 179 followed by Holman with 44 and Sweeton with 20.
Incumbent councilmembers Ben Merrill and Brandi Speck will be joined by newcomer Amanda Wiseman, defeating challenger Jackie Cagle for the three open seats. Merrill led the vote count with 158 followed by Speck with 149, Wiseman with 145, and Cagle with 111.
DECHERD
The city of Decherd held a municipal election on Aug. 7.
Incumbents David Hillstrom and Shuler Hopkins retained their seats on the Decheard Board of Aldermen as the only two candidates to run for two open seats. Hillstrom and Hopkins received 35 and 29 complimentary votes respectively.
ESTILL SPRINGS
A municipal election was held in Estill Springs on Aug. 7.
Incumbent Pat Thomas will be joined by newcomer Darrell K. Day on the board of aldermen, running for the two open seats. Day earned 15 votes while Thomas earned 21.
HUNTLAND
A municipal election was held in Huntland on Aug. 7.
Incumbent Dolton Steele Jr. Defeated challengers Harry Evans Allen III and Billy R. Damron to retain the mayoral seat. Steele earned 98 votes followed by Allen with 23 and Damron with 21.
Dace A. Benson ran unopposed and was re-elected to one of the open alderman seats with 108 votes. No candidate qualified for the seat vacated by Allen to run for mayor, but a write-in candidate received 4 votes.
Huntland residents also voted 71 against and 62 for permitting retail package stores in the municipality.
SWEETWATER
A municipal election was held in Sweetwater on June 12.
Newcomer Angie Kyle was the lone candidate seeking to fill the mayoral seat after outgoing Mayor Doyle Lowe decided to not seek re-election for the first time since 2009. Kyle, principal of Brown Intermediate School, was elected with 332 total votes.
Incumbent Jim Stutts will be joined by newcomer Branham Lovingood on the city commission, defeating fellow challenger Cotton Upton for the two open seats. Stutts earned 275 votes, Lovingood 227, and Upton with 163 votes.
WINCHESTER
A municipal election was held in Winchester in Aug. 7.
Newcomers Steve Cagley, David Eldridge Jr., and Tim Wright defeated will incumbent Lydia Curtis Johnson and challenger Douglas Freund for the three open seats. Cagley led the vote tally with 338 followed Wright with 373, by Eldridge with 298, Johnson with 278, and Freund with 153.