Blythe’s next mayor is Tom Cobb, new city council person is Rebecca Bartlett Newsome

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
FILE - Tom Cobb was elected Blythe's next mayor while Rebecca Bartlett Newsome was elected as a new city council person Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
FILE - Tom Cobb was elected Blythe's next mayor while Rebecca Bartlett Newsome was elected as a new city council person Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Blythe's administration is getting something new and something familiar.

Voters in the small Richmond County city on Tuesday voted for Tom Cobb as their next mayor. The former mayor won 157 votes while Blythe City Councilman Ed LaJoie had 70 votes.

Cobb served as mayor from 2000-2010 and was elected again in 2017, but declined to take the office due to health issues. He is also a retired Army CW4 and co-owns Lek's Unique Consignment with his wife Lek.

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"I would like to thank everyone that supported me in being elected Mayor of Blythe," Cobb wrote on his Facebook. "I am looking forward to working for everyone."

Joining Cobb in leading Blythe will be Rebecca Bartlett Newsome as a new city council person. She came out ahead with 113 votes while veteran and businessman Michael Ringer got 71 and technician Phillip Stewart got 42.

The turnout for both elections was 42%.

Newsome owns Russell’s Barber Shop on Lumpkin Road in Augusta. This is her first time holding office, though she also ran for city council in 2021.

"I'm looking forward to working with everybody," Newsome said. "I want to listen to the people and open up the lines of communication to truly do what the people of Blythe want and not the politicians."

There were technical issues last night on the Richmond County Board of Elections website and the total results were not displayed. Richmond County Elections Director Travis Doss said Wednesday morning this was due to low turnout and not having votes in every precinct. However, these issues have been resolved.

The results of the elections are unofficial until they are certified by the board of elections' during their 2 p.m. meeting Monday at the Richmond County Board of Elections warehouse at 2029 Lumpkin Rd.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Blythe elects Tom Cobb mayor, Rebecca Bartlett Newsome to city council