By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–With election of newcomers Kathy Ray and Vickey Roberts to the Paris City Commission Tuesday, the panel now will have a majority of women.
Vice Mayor Jackie Jones already is on the City Commission and with Mayor Carlton Gerrell not seeking re-election, the election of Ray and Roberts as the new Commission members was a done deal even before the votes were counted.
Ray voiced excitement at the prospect of joining the City Commission. As the long-time former Director of the Downtown Paris Association, she said she already had a love for Downtown Paris and will work hard for the city.
With 30-plus years on the City Commission, Sam Tharpe said he also is excited to continue on the panel, especially with so much positive happening with the city now. Tharpe also is a former Paris Mayor.
Both Tharpe and Ray were interviewed on our Election Night coverage, along with City Commissioner John Etheridge. New Commissioner Vickey Roberts was unavailable.
Paris City Commission results:
Tharpe was the top vote-getter with 1,350 votes or 34.87 percent, with Kathy Ray following with 1,317 votes or 34.01 percent and Roberts with 1,175 or 30.35 percent.
It was a long day and night for election workers. Cottage Grove was the first precinct to arrive with their votes at the Election Commission (at 7:30 p.m.) and all of the 10 precincts had been brought to the Election Commission by 9 p.m.
The Puryear Alderman race was the only contested race in Henry County. Mackie Gallimore and Mitch Sykes won their seats on the panel, with Sykes being the top vote-getter with 87 votes or 37.34 percent and Gallimore receiving 79 votes or 33.91 percent. Dale King received 63 votes or 27.04 percent.
In the other Puryear Alderman race, Tommy Roberts was the only candidate for the unexpired seat. He received 112 votes or 95.73 percent.
City of Henry: Mayor Dustin Odom won reelection with 68 votes, or 95.77 percent.
City of Henry: Alderman (vote for 2): Charlotte Barnes, 59 votes, 52.68 percent; Jody Rayburn with 53 votes or 47.32 percent.
In other races:
Governor Bill Lee, 6,674 votes or 78.42 percent; Jason Martin, 1,604 votes or 18.85 percent.
US House of Rep District 8: David Kustoff, 6,408 votes or 76.72 percent; Lynnette Williams with 1,539 or 18.43 percent.
TN House District 74: Jay Reedy, 2,289 votes or 97.86 percen.
TN House District 76: Tandy Darby with 4007 votes or 78.46 percent, with James Hart at 664 or 13 percent.