Rescheduled June Municipal Election Draws Just 24% Voter Turnout

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Despite a number of contested races, less than one in four registered voters cast ballots in the June 2nd general municipal election in Scotland County. A pair of tax issues as well as the election of school board and city council members were completed by just 24.12% of the 2,732 registered voters in the county.

More than half of the 659 total ballots were cast in the City of Memphis where city government will have a new look with more than 50% turnover on the city council.

Aaron Dale will take over for retiring Memphis Mayor William Reckenberg. Dale received 204 votes to edge Tyler Troutman, who received 145 votes.

Incumbent Tom Glass was defeated in the race for east ward alderman. Lane Campbell will take his seat after carrying nearly two thirds of the ballots, with 106 votes. Justin Winn received 33 votes and Glass was the winner on 27 ballots.

Katie Harris will be the new west ward alderman after narrowly finishing atop of a three-candidate race. Harris received 69 votes to edge Kevin Holton (64 votes) and Jacob Howard (62 votes).

The Scotland County R-I Board of Education will also be replacing a long-term member. George Koontz was unseated after receiving the lowest vote tally of four candidates seeking three available seats. Incumbents Jamie Triplett (541 votes) and Rhonda McBee (496 votes) were re-elected. They will be joined by newcomer Jason Small, who received  371 votes to edge Koontz (274 votes).

Scotland County voters approved a pair of tax issues.

Voters overwhelmingly supported the renewal of the special road and bridge tax for another four years. A total of 510 yes votes were cast to continue the $0.31 tax levy per $100 dollars assessed valuation through 2024. Only 141 no votes were cast, allowing the issue to pass with greater than 78% approval.

The creation of a new 1/2 cent sales tax to benefit the Scotland County Ambulance District was passed with nearly as much support. A total of 459 Scotland County voters said yes to the proposal, which also promises to reduce property tax rates for the district by as much as 50% of the revenue collected by the sales tax. There were 169 no votes cast on the issue, resulting in a 73% approval rating.

A pair of incumbent ambulance board members were re-elected without opposition. Donald Harvey was re-elected to serve District #3 while Ron Tinkle will continue to serve District #8.

A total of six ballots were cast in the Arbela Board of Trustee election. Dennis Giberson, Gordon Wiley and Dee Wiley were all elected with six votes each.

Granger drew just three voters for its Board of Trustee election with Jason Tagie (two votes) and Vienna Hutchinson (one vote) tabbed to serve on the governing board.

Gorin witnessed similar turnout, with three votes cast for Frank Nicholson for east ward alderman and one vote for Teel Pflum as the west ward alderman.

In Rutledge, Lewis B. Powell and Barbara Moore received eight votes each to serve on the Board of Trustees. Dale Haldeman received three votes to win the third seat, edging Kenneth Heck, who received one vote.