2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election
| Elections in Alabama |
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 Government |
The 2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election was held on August 28, 2018, to elect members to the city council and mayoral positions.[1]
Electoral process
[edit]Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Auburn for at least 90 days, be a U.S. Citizen for at least one day, and be registered to vote.[1] If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, then a runoff election is scheduled.
Mayoral election
[edit]
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Incumbent mayor Bill Ham announced that he would not be running for re-election on 29 May 2018. Bill Ham had served as mayor of Auburn since 1998.[2]
Candidates
[edit]Endorsements
[edit]- Mayor
- Bill Ham Jr., (1998–2018); outgoing mayor of Auburn, Alabama.[3]
Ron Anders Jr.
[edit]Former councilman Ron Anders Jr. announced his bid for mayor after endorsement from incumbent Bill Ham. He focused most on public safety and education, promising to provide safety to the community while giving them what they want.[3]
Brittany Cannon Dement
[edit]Brittany Cannon Dement was the only woman who ran for mayor. She focused her campaign on looking at Auburn's future over the next ten to fifteen years. Additionally, another goal of hers was to make the government more transparent for the average citizen, including open mayoral forums.[4]
David Hill
[edit]David Hill focused on how to better plan the city. One goal of his was to better educate the population on zoning laws and how they work, so that they will be able to offer their own input into the plans.[5]
Lindburgh Jackson
[edit]Lindburgh Jackson ran to improve the treatment of the northwest area of Auburn, and focus on diversity issues in the community.[6]
Jordan Langdon
[edit]Auburn University student Jordan Langdon filed paperwork to run for mayor on 24 July 2018. He ran on a platform to try to give younger people a chance.[7]
Richard Speake
[edit]Richard Speake ran on a platform of the environment, joking about being the "Green" candidate in the race. One of his main focuses was banning styrofoam in the city.[8] He was arrested twice following the election, for public intoxication and criminal trespassing.[9]
Debates and forums
[edit]| No. | Date | Host | Link | Participants | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Participant A Absent | |||||||||
| Anders Jr. | Dement | Hill | Jackson | Langdon | Speake | ||||
| 1[10] | Aug 23, 2018 | Auburn Chamber of Commerce | YouTube | P | P | P | P | A | P |
First round
[edit]Six candidates were on the ballot for the first round of voting. No candidate received a majority of the votes, so the top two candidates by popular vote qualified for the final round of voting.[11]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Anders Jr. | 3,668 | 42.6% | |
| David B. Hill | 2,500 | 29.0% | |
| Brittany Cannon Dement | 2,179 | 25.3% | |
| Lindburgh B. Jackson | 200 | 2.3% | |
| Richard E. Speake | 52 | 0.6% | |
| Jordan Langdon | 21 | 0.2% | |
| Total votes | 8,620 | 100.0% | |
Runoff
[edit]The top two candidates from the first round advanced, consisting of former councilman Ron Anders Jr, alongside David Hill.[12] The election was scheduled for 9 October 2018.[13]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Anders Jr. | 4,538 | 54.2% | |
| David B. Hill | 3,831 | 45.8% | |
| Total votes | 8,369 | 100.0% | |
City council elections
[edit]Three of the eight incumbents chose to run for re-election.[14]
Ward 1
[edit]Connie Fitch Taylor won the election with 69% of the vote.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connie Fitch Taylor | 329 | 69.1% | |
| Verlinda J. White | 147 | 30.9% | |
| Total votes | 476 | 100.0% | |
Ward 2
[edit]As no candidate received a majority of the vote, Kelley Griswold and Todd Scholl advanced to the runoff election on 9 October 2018.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelley Griswold | 692 | 38.2% | |
| Todd D. Scholl | 418 | 23.1% | |
| Anthony Brock | 333 | 18.4% | |
| Phil Chansler | 174 | 9.6% | |
| Hal Walker | 156 | 8.6% | |
| Stephen "Kyle" Mosely | 37 | 2.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,810 | 100.0% | |
Runoff
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelley Griswold | 1,093 | 63.7% | |
| Todd D. Scholl | 623 | 36.3% | |
| Total votes | 1,716 | 100.0% | |
Ward 3
[edit]As the only candidate, Beth Witten was elected to the city council unopposed.[15]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Witten | Unnopposed | 100% | |
Ward 4
[edit]No candidate received a majority of the vote, so the top two candidates, Brett Smith and Jim Ryan, advanced to a runoff.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Smith | 355 | 49.2% | |
| Jim Ryan | 241 | 33.4% | |
| Barry Davis | 125 | 17.3% | |
| Total votes | 721 | 100.0% | |
Runoff
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brett Smith | 424 | 63.8% | |
| Jim Ryan | 241 | 36.2% | |
| Total votes | 665 | 100.0% | |
Ward 5
[edit]No candidate won a majority of the votes, so Steven Dixon and Walter Northcutt advanced to the runoff.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Dixon | 651 | 36.5% | |
| Walter M. Northcutt | 619 | 34.7% | |
| Brian P. O'Neil | 512 | 28.7% | |
| Total votes | 1,782 | 100.0% | |
Runoff
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Dixon | 1,140 | 59.3% | |
| Walter M. Northcutt | 782 | 40.7% | |
| Total votes | 1,922 | 100.0% | |
Ward 6
[edit]Sarah Brown and Bob Parsons moved to a runoff due to neither candidate receiving a majority of the vote.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Brown | 378 | 43.9% | |
| Bob Parsons | 306 | 35.5% | |
| Brad Donnelly | 178 | 20.6% | |
| Total votes | 862 | 100.0% | |
Runoff
[edit]Bob Parsons won the runoff in the closest election of the day.
Endorsements
[edit]- Candidate
- Brad Donnelly; Eliminated in first round.[16]
Results
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Parsons | 438 | 50.8% | |
| Sarah Brown | 425 | 49.2% | |
| Total votes | 863 | 100.0% | |
Ward 7
[edit]Jay Hovey won the election with 54% of the vote.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Hovey | 711 | 54.3% | |
| Laura Mirarchi | 254 | 19.4% | |
| Jay Conner | 178 | 13.6% | |
| Andrew Puent | 104 | 7.9% | |
| Amy C. Crew | 63 | 4.8% | |
| Total votes | 1,310 | 100.0% | |
Ward 8
[edit]Tommy Dawson won the election with 52% of the vote.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Dawson | 419 | 52.4% | |
| Marlene Bowman | 380 | 47.6% | |
| Total votes | 799 | 100.0% | |
Election summary
[edit]| Position | Before election[17] | After election | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Bill Ham Jr. | Ron Anders Jr. | 
|
| Ward 1 | Verlinda White | Connie Fitch-Taylor | 
|
| Ward 2 | Ron Anders Jr. | Kelley Griswold | 
|
| Ward 3 | Beth Witten | Beth Witten | 
|
| Ward 4 | Brent Beard | Brett Smith | |
| Ward 5 | Lynda Tremaine | Steven Dixon | |
| Ward 6 | Dick Phelan | Bob Parsons | 
|
| Ward 7 | Gene Dulaney | Jay Hovey | |
| Ward 8 | Tommy Dawson | Tommy Dawson | 
|
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Here's what you need to know to qualify for Auburn's 2018 Municipal Election". WTVM News Leader 9. June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "After 20 years, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham will not seek re-election". Alabama Today. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Ron Anders, with endorsement from Bill Ham, launches mayoral campaign". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Only woman of six mayoral candidates: meet Brittany Cannon Dement". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "After working in fast-growing communities around the country, David Hill wants to be Auburn's next mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Meet Northwest Auburn advocate Lindburgh Jackson vying for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (July 24, 2018). "Auburn sophomore announces candidacy for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 24, 2018). "Environmental advocate Richard Speake seeks mayoral seat". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Alex (October 12, 2018). "Former Auburn mayoral candidate arrested for the second time in a month". WSFA 12. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 23, 2018). "Auburn Mayoral Candidates discuss City relationships, downtown Auburn at candidate forum Wednesday". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Regular Municipal Election". City of Auburn. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Brownlee, Chip (August 29, 2018). "Ron Anders, David Hill in runoff for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Runoff Election". City of Auburn. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Brownlee, Chip; Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "A voter's guide to Tuesday's City Council elections". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 26, 2018). "Meet the Ward 3 City Council candidate". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ "Elect Brad Donnelly". Facebook. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "What you need to know about the 2018 Municipal Election" (PDF). City of Auburn. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2024.