Gregg Sweeten staged a successful write-in campaign to become Pineville's next mayor by beating three people on the ballot during Tuesday's Municipal Election.
Sweeten received 77 votes to narrowly defeat Jeff Slish who garnered 67 votes. Larry Henson was third with 18 votes and Jean Mathis got 5.
The other contested position in Pineville was for North Ward Alderman. Scott Dennis defeated incumbent Jim Gray by a margin of 65-33.
In the race for mayor of Anderson, incumbent John Sellers won with 127 votes. Write-in candidate Hank Heiskell was second with 54 votes followed by Mike Clutter with 17 and Douglas Idell with 10.
In the contest for West Ward Alderman, challenger Don Hines defeated incumbent Tim Roark and fellow challenger Jimmie Gideon. Hines received 31 votes while Roark and Gideon each had 28.
Several other council races were held across the county.
In Noel, incumbent West Ward Alderman Genaro Salas received 19 votes to defeat former mayor Lewis Davis who received nine votes.
In Southwest City, Ron Jackson defeated fellow write-in candidate Patty Burrow 28-19, while Jesus Sosa did not receive a vote.
The final council race was for North Ward Alderman in Goodman. Incumbent Calvin Wilson defeated challenger Roger Hensley by a 36-8 margin.
Below are the vote totals for all candidates for municipal office.
• Anderson -- Mayor: John Sellers 127, Douglas Idell 10, Mike Clutter 17 and Hank Heiskell 54; East Ward Alderman: Rusty Wilson 105; West Ward Alderman: Tim Roark 28, Jimmie Gideon 28 and Don Hines 31;
• Noel -- North Ward Alderman: Jim Boston 5; South Ward Alderman: William Rose 7; West Ward Alderman: Genaro Salas 19 and Lewis Davis 9;
• Southwest City -- East Ward Alderman: Linda Hart 28; West Ward Alderman: Jesus C. Sosa 0 and write-in candidates, Patty Burrow 19 and Ron Jackson 28;
• Pineville -- Mayor: Jean Mathis 5, Jeff Slish 67, Larry Henson 18 and Gregg Sweeten 77; Collector: Alberta Anders 151; North Ward Alderman: Jim Gray 38 and Scott Dennis 65; South Ward Alderman: Jack Williams 63
• Lanagan --(1) Alderman At-Large: Teresa Ezell 16; (2) Aldermen At-Large (Vote for two): Denise Divine 16 and Angie Medrano 16
• Goodman -- Municipal Judge: Clyde Davidson 61; South Ward Alderman Keith Kohley 20; North Ward Alderman Calvin Wilson 36 and Roger Hensley 8.
School Board
A field of five candidates sought one of three positions on the McDonald County Board of Education. Incumbents Dr. Scott Goldstein and David Bunch retained their positions, but Steve Buckingham finished fourth and was unseated by Jeff Cooper.
Goldstein lead the five-way race with 574 votes followed by Bunch with 553, Cooper 551, Buckingham 469 and Kenneth Harp 311.
General News on 04/10/2014