Election Results: Wrens gets new mayor
Wrens elected a new mayor Tuesday in David Hannah, a life-long resident who has served as a councilmember for the last four years.
“This is more about the people of Wrens, they won this election,” Hannah said Wednesday. “The people wanted change. They wanted to see growth and businesses coming in. This is bigger than me.”
Hannah said that he looks forward to working with area young people and wants to provide them with new opportunities for recreation and leisure and employment, possibly utilizing the old middle school facility for new programming.
“We want to give them more to do so they stay off the streets,” he said. “And the more jobs we can get in town the better off we will all be. You have to reach them early and so it’s going to take all of us working together to make this work.”
Hannah said that he wants the city to continue to work on improving housing for citizens.
“A lot of our young people are leaving Wrens, going to Grovetown, Hephzibah and Harlem. I have been hearing for the longest that we don’t have anywhere for people to live,” he said. “We have to work to keep our young people here, because they are going to be the future of this community. They are going to be the leaders. I want to see things grow.”
Hannah has been in law enforcement for 35 years, 19 of those with the City of Wrens, first as an investigator and later as its police chief. He has also worked with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Waynesboro Police Department, Wadley Police Department and provided security for Lamb Investment Company at an apartment complex in Burke County.
“I was the first black police chief in Wrens and now I’m the first black mayor,” Hannah said. “Over the years I’ve seen some good things happen in Wrens and I’ve seen some things we need to do better. Hopefully, with the citizens’ help, they can help lead us into a future where we see the city grow.”
He added that he wants to put together a citizen’s police academy and reinvigorate the city’s neighborhood watch program to assist the police department
Hannah received 351 votes to incumbent Mayor Johnny Rabun’s 244 and will take office in January.
Wrens
Torrey “TK” King will be joining the Wrens City Council, having received the most votes of the five candidates running. King received 284 votes. Incumbent Marty Amerson will be returning to his seat after receiving 257 votes. Other candidates for the two council seats were Miranda Berry with 208, Wayne Favors with 199 and Eugene Love Jr who received 136.
Louisville
Incumbent Larry Atkins will keep his council seat, having received 328 votes to his challenger Larkin Williams’ 221 votes. Incumbent Michelle Braddy Reaves received 275 votes to challengers Donald L. Cobb Jr.’s 205 and Melanie M. Davis’ 98.
Stapleton
Incumbent Mayor Lisa M. Cranford will keep her mayoral seat. She received 42 votes to her challenger Phillip A. Beckworth’s 38. Both incumbent councilmen will also keep their seats. Citizens cast votes for two of the three candidates Tuesday. Incumbent Jason V. Irby received 66, incumbent Christopher Whipple 51 and challenger Gail Spiller 29.
Wadley
In Wadley, voters cast ballots for two of four candidates, and reelected incumbent Albert “Mr. Fat” Samples, who received the most votes at 275. Challenger Kendrick Johnson was elected to the city council with the second most votes, 192. Incumbent Jerry L. Thomas and challenger Darrin Johnson both received 132 votes each. Ezee “Zeke” Carter was chosen in a special election to fill the unexpired term of Councilman Izell Mack who died earlier this year. Carter received 185 votes. Maggie Riggins Jones received 160 and Tommie “TLE” Lordge Sr. 88.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Election Results: Wrens gets new mayor
