Elections bring few changes

By Tina Alvey
Register-Herald reporter

June 10, 2009 09:28 pm

— Tuesday’s municipal elections brought few changes to city government in Greenbrier County.
Rainelle was the only town with a full ballot, and only one newcomer won a council seat. Ron Fleshman captured 266 votes in taking the seat previously occupied by Jimmy Matheney, who chose not to run for re-election.
Incumbents who won another term on council were Michael Neal (291), David Spitzer (285), Gary Harris (282) and Steve Dunford (270). George Brooks (141), Dale Thomas (136) and Alfred Ayers (129) were unsuccessful in attempts to unseat those council members.
Mayor John Hill also won re-election, defeating former Mayor Eugene McKenzie 262-145. A similar gap separated incumbent Recorder Phillip Adams and challenger Bonnie Harris. Adams won 258-149.
Rupert Mayor Charles Mundy and Recorder Tina Livingston both won re-election with 40 votes each.
Jim Nichols and David Yoakum were re-elected to town council, with 44 and 39 votes, respectively.
With no other incumbents running this year, the other three council seats are still up for grabs. Only two votes separated the five candidates for those posts, and there are four provisional ballots awaiting this evening’s canvass. At this point, Mike McQuain and David McAfee lead with 26 votes each, followed by Jennifer Gunnoe with 25 and Donald Keech and Leah Yoakum with 24 each.
Today’s canvass is set for 6 p.m. at town hall.
White Sulphur Springs Mayor Debra Fogus was re-elected with 86 votes. Recorder James Perrow, a 12-year veteran of city government, cited his health in deciding not to seek another term. Running unopposed for the open slot, Thomas Taylor received 81 votes.
All five incumbent city council members were swept back into office. Chris Hanna led the way with 80 votes, while Linda Shortridge garnered 74, Peggy Bland 73, Lynn Swann 69 and Mike Honaker 66. Challenger Carey Shrewsbury received 46 votes in a losing cause.
Lewisburg also welcomed one newcomer to municipal government as Andrew Evans won election to city council with 62 votes. He ran unopposed for the seat previously held by Vivian Conly, who chose not to run for re-election.
Also running unopposed were council members Mark Etten, with 59 votes, and Wade McClure, with 56, and Recorder Shannon Ninnemann, who received 60 votes.
n No challengers emerged to the full slate of incumbents running in Alderson. Re-elected were Mayor Luther Lewallen, with 60 votes; Recorder Margaret Hambrick, with 69; and council members Darold Allen, who received 59 votes, and Tod Hanger Jr., Ann Eskins, Greg Taylor and David Keadle, with 61 votes each.
— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com