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Municipal Election

Elkins taps two city council newcomers

The Inter-Mountain photos by Brad Johnson Former Elkins mayor Judy Guye, at right, was elected to Elkins City Council representing First Ward in Tuesday’s municipal election. Guye chats with Fifth Ward candidate Howard P. Knapp II at City Hall Tuesday evening while they wait for the election results.

ELKINS — Elkins voters elected two new city council members and re-elected three more during the municipal election Tuesday.

Former Elkins Mayor Judy Guye will represent First Ward on city council. Guye received 128 votes, topping incumbent Bob Woolwine, with 67 votes, and Philips B. Kolsun, with 39 votes.

In Second Ward, G. Michael Hinchman received 75 votes, earning the win over Carrie Shupp, who had 35 votes. Incumbent Gene Ochsendorf did not seek reelection.

Incumbent Fifth Ward Councilwoman Linda Vest will retain her seat. Vest with 27 votes bested three challengers, including Joe Sabatino, with 25 votes, Robin Spicer, 17 votes, and Howard P. Knapp II, six votes.

Running unopposed was Mayor Van Broughton, who earned his fourth term as mayor with a total of 378 votes.

Winning re-election in unopposed races Tuesday were, from left, Third Ward’s Chris Lowther, Fourth Ward’s Marilynn Cuonzo and Mayor Van Broughton. Second Ward councilman Charlie Friddle looks on in the background.

Also unopposed for city council were Third Ward’s Chris Lowther, who earned 14 votes, and Fourth Ward’s Marilynn Cuonzo, who tallied 39.

With so many unchallenged races, voter turnout was low Tuesday.

In voting by wards, a total of 234 voters went to the polls in First Ward, which has 1,189 registered voters; 110 ballots were cast in Second Ward, which has 868 registered voters; 14 votes were cast in Third Ward, which has 631 registered voters; 39 ballots were cast in Fourth Ward, which has 1,171 registered voters; and 75 were cast in Fifth Ward, which has 844 registered voters.

Many of the candidates gathered at City Hall Tuesday evening to await the results.

After Fifth Ward’s vote totals were announced, Guye told The Inter-Mountain, “I’m really honored to have the majority of the votes in First Ward, and I certainly hope to be able to answer to the people and support First Ward and the city council in general.”

Hinchman

Hinchman said, “I’d like to thank everybody who voted for me, I appreciate it. I’m ready to go to work. I think we’re starting some exciting times. Elkins was just voted one of the best places to live, Top 10 in the state, and we’re also in the Top 10 of the fastest-growing cities. So I want to build on the work that the other people have done and move forward.”

Vest said, “I would just like to thank the voters in the Fifth Ward for exercising their rights, and I’d like to thank all the others in the county who helped to campaign for me. I’ll be ready to work for the citizens again.”

Broughton, who ran unopposed for the third straight election, told The Inter-Mountain, “I’d like to thank the residents of Elkins for the continued support and confidence that they have in me. For an elected official to run unopposed, you don’t see it in today’s world much. It means a lot. I will continue to give it all I’ve got each day and every day.”

Lowther, who won his first election to council after being appointed to the Third Ward seat, noted, “I want to thank everybody who came out and voted for me, and we’re going to keep working like we have the last two years. Thank you for your support and we’ll do the best we can for you.”

Cuonzo, who was elected for the third time Tuesday, said, “I’d like to thank everybody who actually came out and voted. It’s important to come out and vote. Even though I didn’t have anybody running against me, it’s nice to know the people in my ward come out and vote, and I appreciate that. I’ll continue to do the best I can for my ward.”

Vest

Kolsun was gracious in defeat, saying, “I want to thank the people who came out and voted for me. I want to congratulate Judy Guye, and I think she’ll do a great job. I’ll continue to support her and anyone else with the city. I’ll still serve on the Building Commission so I’ll still continue to be involved in city government.”

The results announced Tuesday night are preliminary. At noon on Monday, Elkins City Council will meet as the Board of Canvassers at City Hall to review the election materials and decide on any provisional ballots per State Code. This is a public meeting.

This meeting will then be recessed and the Board will reconvene at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 to certify the election results. This will also be a public meeting.

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