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2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election

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The 2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election was held on August 28, 2018, to elect members to the city council and mayoral positions.[1]

Electoral process

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Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Auburn for at least 90 days, be a U.S. Citizen for at least one day, and be registered to vote.[1] If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, then a runoff election is scheduled.

Mayoral election

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2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election
← 2014 October 9, 2018 2022 →
 
Candidate Ron Anders Jr. David B. Hill
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 4,538 3,831
Percentage 54.2% 45.8%

Mayor before election

Bill Ham Jr.

Elected mayor

Ron Anders Jr.

Incumbent mayor Bill Ham announced that he would not be running for re-election on 29 May 2018. Bill Ham had served as mayor of Auburn since 1998.[2]

Candidates

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Endorsements

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Ron Anders Jr.
Mayor

Ron Anders Jr.

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Former councilman Ron Anders Jr. announced his bid for mayor after endorsement from incumbent Bill Ham. He focused most on public safety and education, promising to provide safety to the community while giving them what they want.[3]

Brittany Cannon Dement

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Brittany Cannon Dement was the only woman who ran for mayor. She focused her campaign on looking at Auburn's future over the next ten to fifteen years. Additionally, another goal of hers was to make the government more transparent for the average citizen, including open mayoral forums.[4]

David Hill

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David Hill focused on how to better plan the city. One goal of his was to better educate the population on zoning laws and how they work, so that they will be able to offer their own input into the plans.[5]

Lindburgh Jackson

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Lindburgh Jackson ran to improve the treatment of the northwest area of Auburn, and focus on diversity issues in the community.[6]

Jordan Langdon

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Auburn University student Jordan Langdon filed paperwork to run for mayor on 24 July 2018. He ran on a platform to try to give younger people a chance.[7]

Richard Speake

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Richard Speake ran on a platform of the environment, joking about being the "Green" candidate in the race. One of his main focuses was banning styrofoam in the city.[8] He was arrested twice following the election, for public intoxication and criminal trespassing.[9]

Debates and forums

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2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral debates
No. Date Host Link Participants
 P  Participant   A  Absent  
Anders Jr. Dement Hill Jackson Langdon Speake
1[10] Aug 23, 2018 Auburn Chamber of Commerce YouTube P P P P A P

First round

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Six candidates were on the ballot for the first round of voting. No candidate received a majority of the votes, so the top two candidates by popular vote qualified for the final round of voting.[11]

2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election[11]
Candidate Votes %
Ron Anders Jr. 3,668 42.6%
David B. Hill 2,500 29.0%
Brittany Cannon Dement 2,179 25.3%
Lindburgh B. Jackson 200 2.3%
Richard E. Speake 52 0.6%
Jordan Langdon 21 0.2%
Total votes 8,620 100.0%

Runoff

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The top two candidates from the first round advanced, consisting of former councilman Ron Anders Jr, alongside David Hill.[12] The election was scheduled for 9 October 2018.[13]


2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election runoff[13]
Candidate Votes %
Ron Anders Jr. 4,538 54.2%
David B. Hill 3,831 45.8%
Total votes 8,369 100.0%

City council elections

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Three of the eight incumbents chose to run for re-election.[14]

Ward 1

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Connie Fitch Taylor won the election with 69% of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 1[11]
Candidate Votes %
Connie Fitch Taylor 329 69.1%
Verlinda J. White 147 30.9%
Total votes 476 100.0%

Ward 2

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As no candidate received a majority of the vote, Kelley Griswold and Todd Scholl advanced to the runoff election on 9 October 2018.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 2[11]
Candidate Votes %
Kelley Griswold 692 38.2%
Todd D. Scholl 418 23.1%
Anthony Brock 333 18.4%
Phil Chansler 174 9.6%
Hal Walker 156 8.6%
Stephen "Kyle" Mosely 37 2.0%
Total votes 1,810 100.0%

Runoff

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2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 2 runoff[13]
Candidate Votes %
Kelley Griswold 1,093 63.7%
Todd D. Scholl 623 36.3%
Total votes 1,716 100.0%

Ward 3

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As the only candidate, Beth Witten was elected to the city council unopposed.[15]

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 3
Candidate Votes %
Beth Witten Unnopposed 100%

Ward 4

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No candidate received a majority of the vote, so the top two candidates, Brett Smith and Jim Ryan, advanced to a runoff.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 4[11]
Candidate Votes %
Brett Smith 355 49.2%
Jim Ryan 241 33.4%
Barry Davis 125 17.3%
Total votes 721 100.0%

Runoff

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2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 4 runoff[13]
Candidate Votes %
Brett Smith 424 63.8%
Jim Ryan 241 36.2%
Total votes 665 100.0%

Ward 5

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No candidate won a majority of the votes, so Steven Dixon and Walter Northcutt advanced to the runoff.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 5[11]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Dixon 651 36.5%
Walter M. Northcutt 619 34.7%
Brian P. O'Neil 512 28.7%
Total votes 1,782 100.0%

Runoff

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2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 5 runoff[13]
Candidate Votes %
Steven Dixon 1,140 59.3%
Walter M. Northcutt 782 40.7%
Total votes 1,922 100.0%

Ward 6

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Sarah Brown and Bob Parsons moved to a runoff due to neither candidate receiving a majority of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 6[11]
Candidate Votes %
Sarah Brown 378 43.9%
Bob Parsons 306 35.5%
Brad Donnelly 178 20.6%
Total votes 862 100.0%

Runoff

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Bob Parsons won the runoff in the closest election of the day.

Endorsements
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Bob Parsons
Candidate
  • Brad Donnelly; Eliminated in first round.[16]
Results
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2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 6 runoff[13]
Candidate Votes %
Bob Parsons 438 50.8%
Sarah Brown 425 49.2%
Total votes 863 100.0%

Ward 7

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Jay Hovey won the election with 54% of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 7[11]
Candidate Votes %
Jay Hovey 711 54.3%
Laura Mirarchi 254 19.4%
Jay Conner 178 13.6%
Andrew Puent 104 7.9%
Amy C. Crew 63 4.8%
Total votes 1,310 100.0%

Ward 8

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Tommy Dawson won the election with 52% of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 8[11]
Candidate Votes %
Tommy Dawson 419 52.4%
Marlene Bowman 380 47.6%
Total votes 799 100.0%

Election summary

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Position Before election[17] After election Image
Mayor Bill Ham Jr. Ron Anders Jr.
Ward 1 Verlinda White Connie Fitch-Taylor
Ward 2 Ron Anders Jr. Kelley Griswold
Ward 3 Beth Witten Beth Witten
Ward 4 Brent Beard Brett Smith
Ward 5 Lynda Tremaine Steven Dixon
Ward 6 Dick Phelan Bob Parsons
Ward 7 Gene Dulaney Jay Hovey
Ward 8 Tommy Dawson Tommy Dawson

References

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  1. ^ a b "Here's what you need to know to qualify for Auburn's 2018 Municipal Election". WTVM News Leader 9. June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "After 20 years, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham will not seek re-election". Alabama Today. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Ron Anders, with endorsement from Bill Ham, launches mayoral campaign". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Only woman of six mayoral candidates: meet Brittany Cannon Dement". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "After working in fast-growing communities around the country, David Hill wants to be Auburn's next mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Meet Northwest Auburn advocate Lindburgh Jackson vying for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (July 24, 2018). "Auburn sophomore announces candidacy for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 24, 2018). "Environmental advocate Richard Speake seeks mayoral seat". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Jones, Alex (October 12, 2018). "Former Auburn mayoral candidate arrested for the second time in a month". WSFA 12. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 23, 2018). "Auburn Mayoral Candidates discuss City relationships, downtown Auburn at candidate forum Wednesday". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Regular Municipal Election". City of Auburn. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Brownlee, Chip (August 29, 2018). "Ron Anders, David Hill in runoff for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Runoff Election". City of Auburn. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  14. ^ Brownlee, Chip; Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "A voter's guide to Tuesday's City Council elections". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 26, 2018). "Meet the Ward 3 City Council candidate". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "Elect Brad Donnelly". Facebook. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "What you need to know about the 2018 Municipal Election" (PDF). City of Auburn. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
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