Gaskin leads mayor’s race; still too close to call Keith Gaskin and his campaign manager Bennett Windham watch the results roll in at their campaign headquarters in downtown Columbus Tuesday evening. At the end of Tuesday night, Gaskin had a 66-lead over Mayor Robert Smith in the mayoral election with more than 150 affidavit ballots still to be processed. Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff
Robert Smith
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since its original publication.
As of late Tuesday night, independent challenger Keith Gaskin had 66 more votes than Democratic Mayor Robert Smith but there are still 158 affidavit ballots to be processed, meaning it remains too close to call.
Robin Davis, communications director for Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, told The Dispatch Tuesday that interviews are being conducted this week with nine people from among 34 applications who applied for the position.
Ginther has said he hopes to have a police chief named by the end of May. Michael Woods continues to serve as interim chief on a supplemental contract after his retirement in April. He replaced former Chief Thomas Quinlan, who was asked to step down in late January.
Davis said interviews are being conducted this week by Ralph Andersen and Associates, the search firm hired by the city to conduct the chief search; Director of Public Safety Ned Pettus, city Human Resources director Nikki Brandon, Chief of Staff Ken PaulDeputy Chiefs of Staff Kate Pishotti and Kathy Owens, as well as Willard McIntosh, a member of the Civilian Review Board and retired Columbus police officer.
Starkville’s Ward 4 Republican primary remains tied after election night
By Zack Plair and Tyler B. Jones/[email protected]; [email protected] 6 hours ago
Austin Check
STARKVILLE It will be at least another week before voters in Ward 4 know who the Republican nominee is for their alderman seat.
Austin Check and Kevin Daniels are deadlocked at 92 votes each after in-person and absentee votes in that primary were tallied Tuesday.
City Clerk Lesa Hardin said four affidavit ballots need to be processed in that race, and by law the city must wait five days after the election on mail-in absentees that might still come in.
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