Town council races decided in Tazewell County
Nov. 6—Voters in Tazewell County decided a number of contested town council and mayoral races Tuesday.
In the town of Bluefield, Va., five candidates were vying for three seats on the Bluefield, Va. Town Council.
With all precincts reporting, the top vote getters in Tuesday's unofficial returns were James W. Knowles Jr., 777; Meagan Vance Kade, 714; and Chad A. Lambert, 639. Billie Jo "B.J." Roberts garnered 414 votes and Wayne L. Blevins had 497. Another 17 write-in votes were reported.
Two candidates were vying for a special council election in Bluefield, Va. that was created by the resignation of former council member Lee Riffe. The apparent winner in that contest was Karen L. Rich with 794 votes followed by P. Mike McClanahan, 514 according to the unofficial returns.
In Bluefield, Va.'s mayoral race, incumbent Mayor Donald Scott Linkous ran unopposed and was re-elected with 1,143 votes, according to unofficial returns Tuesday. There were 59 write-in votes in the mayoral race.
Voter turnout was strong Tuesday, with more than 6,655 ballots being cast before 2 p.m., Tazewell County Registrar Brian Earls said.
In Pocahontas, incumbent Mayor Benjamin A. Gibson ran unopposed and was re-elected with 81 votes. Another 12 write-in votes were cast in that race.
Six candidates were seeking a seat on the Pocahontas Town Council. They were J. Suzanne Brinegar, 78; Ted Michael Sluss, 67; Karen M. LaFon, 63; Nadja Ann Brodesser, 58; Michael H. Gibson, 42; and A. Brad Belcher, 43. There were another six write-in votes in that race.
Two candidates were vying for mayor in the town of Tazewell. The winner in unofficial returns was Michael F. Hoops with 435 votes followed by 173 votes for Bill A. Weeks.
Also in Tazewell, four candidates were vying Tuesday for three seats on the Tazewell Town Council. The top vote getters in the unofficial returns were Danny C. Willis, 363; David H. Fox, 354; and Joe R. Beasley, 267. F. Gabrielle de Courcy garnered 158 votes.
In the town of Richlands, two candidates were vying for mayor. The winner in the unofficial returns was Rod D. Cury, with 737 votes. Jacob C. Van Dyke garnered 497 votes.
In Cedar Bluff, three candidates were vying for three seats on the Cedar Bluff Town Council. The winners were Tressia L. Boyd, 149; Jaimie Gail Tuggle, 152; and J. York Lindsey, 176
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