By Bill Short
Mayor Terry Jones was re-elected, four aldermen won second terms, and two school board members were defeated in the Nov. 8 Millington city elections. Jones received 1,964 votes, or 53.4 percent of the 3,680 cast. Position 6 Alderman Chris Ford, who is also the city’s vice mayor, got 1,705 votes, or 46.3 percent. Winning a third term, the mayor said he is “humbled and honored” by the “faith and confidence” that the residents have shown in him to continue to “serve and lead” for the next four years. “I look forward to the continued growth of our school system, our business base and the recreational opportunities for our community,” he noted. “I want to continue the progress and growth that we have seen recently to make Millington a better community to raise our children, to work, to play and to worship.” In last week’s other results: Aldermen Hank Hawkins, Frankie Dakin, Larry Dagen and Thomas McGhee were re-elected, while Bethany Huffman was defeated. Huffman received 1,681 votes, or 49.5 percent of the 3,399 cast for Position 1, and Missy Boyd Ervin got 1,713, or 50.4 percent. Hawkins received 1,711 votes, or 50.2 percent of the 3,409 cast for Position 2, and Al Bell got 1,691, or 49.6 percent. Dakin received 2,413 votes, or 71.5 percent of the 3,377 cast for Position 3, and Roger Taney Henderson got 959, or 28.4 percent. Dagen received 2,322 votes, or 67.3 percent of the 3,448 cast for Position 4, and Sherrie Hopper got 1,123, or 32.6 percent. McGhee received 2,195 votes, or 64.6 percent of the 3,400 cast for Position 5, and Donald Holsinger got 1,197, or 35.2 percent. Former alderman Don Lowry received 1,946 votes, or 57.9 percent of the 3,360 cast for the open Position 6 seat, and Jon Crisp got 1,410, or 41.9 percent. Position 7 Alderman Mike Caruthers, who was unopposed for a third term, received 2,944 votes, or 98.8 percent of the 2,979 cast. In the three contested school board races, Position 1 member Gregory Ritter received 1,555 votes, or 46.8 percent of the 3,323 cast, and Roger Christopher got 1,767, or 53.2 percent. Rosie Crawford received 1,441 votes, or 43.1 percent of the 3,345 cast for the open Position 3 seat, and Mark Coulter got 1,903, or 56.9 percent. Position 5 member Louise Kennon received 1,627 votes, or 49.7 percent of the 3,274 cast, and Ronnie Mackin got 1,646, or 50.3 percent. Chris Denson, who was unopposed for the open Position 7 seat, received 2,978 votes, or 99.6 percent of the 2,989 cast. Earlier this year, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Tennessee General Assembly approved an amendment to the City Charter that established staggered terms for the aldermen. This year, alderman positions 1-4 were up for re-election to a two-year and positions 5-7 for a four-year term. The first four positions will be up for re-election to a four-year term in 2018 and the other three in 2020. The mayor’s position will continue to be up for re-election every four years. In November 2013, the successful candidates for school board positions 2, 4 and 6 were initially elected to one-year terms, while those for positions 1, 3, 5 and 7 won three-year terms. Board members occupying the even-numbered positions were elected to four-year terms in 2014.
Last week’s winners of the odd-numbered positions will be up for re-election in 2020.
