MILTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” From the two mayoral candidates who went head-to-head in Milton during Tuesday nightÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s general election, Shane Evans came out on top with 577 votes, or about 54% of the vote, in unofficial results with all precincts reporting.
Evans, who owns Evans Building, a general contractor business in Milton, has lived in Milton for 52 years but ran for mayor this year.
Evans was waiting at the Cabell County Courthouse all evening Tuesday for the results that would eventually secure his spot.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m just thankful for everybody that came out and voted for me, and IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m going to fight for the whole town, try to make the whole town better, not just people voting for me. And I will keep my word and try to do everything I can and I promised. And I canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t do that without the council, and we got a great team this time, and I think we can go places,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Evans told The Herald-Dispatch Tuesday night.
During initial interviews with The Herald-Dispatch, Evans said his main priority as mayor would be to address the cityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s water issues.
Tuesday night, Evans echoed those sentiments, adding, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not going to be fixed overnight ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥¦ but it is going to start going uphill instead of downhill.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s gonna take a change for the good.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
As for the five city council members who were elected Tuesday night, Evans said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe all have some great ideas, and I will listen to the councilÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s ideas.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
He spoke of the possibility of a new recreation center or public pool, a farmers market or other ways to better the city with increased events to attract more people.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œ(What) I want (people) to remember me by is maybe I helped the town a little bit,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Evans said.
City Council
Meanwhile, of the 10 candidates who competed for five city council spots, incumbent Carl Harshbarger won the most votes with all precincts reporting at 565, or about 15% of the total.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI just look forward to working with the new administration, and weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re talking about water. We got a new grant coming in, and I look forward to using that,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Harshbarger, who was also awaiting results Tuesday evening at the courthouse, told The Herald-Dispatch.
As for being reelected, Harshbarger said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI want to thank the people of Milton for putting me in that position. And I really love Milton, and I just want to do whatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s best for the city and whatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s best to do for the people, and I think that the new administration is going to be valuable for that.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The second seat went to incumbent Troy Nicely, with 548 votes, or about 14% of the vote. The third seat went to Scott Foster with 458 votes, or about 12%.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve got a great team. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m looking forward to what we can do for the city,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Nicely said Tuesday night.
As for the cityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s water issues, Nicely said, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re gonna continue doing what the utilities have done in the past, but weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re gonna have some new leadership in there and some new plans.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Foster said Wednesday morning that he is ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œhonored and humbledÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to be elected to serve one of the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œbest cities in the state.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Moving forward with the water issues, his idea is to have a ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œfull-on review of our water system. That goes back to reviewing our partnerships that we currently have and our operating procedure and have full transparency with the residents.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Scott Bias and Chase Bryant won the other two seats with 386 and 369 votes, respectively, each with nearly 10% of the vote.
Bias said Wednesday morning he is ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œjust happy to get in, to be able to get in there and help make a difference. Maybe several of (the city council members) are going to be totally new to any type of government position, so hopefully IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll have a little bit of knowledge thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll help with that.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Although Bias is not an incumbent, he was formerly the president of the Cabell County Commission and was a Cabell County magistrate.
Of his previous position, he said the area has ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œa lot of projects going on, and I hope to continue them, and I hope to do some other things.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Bias also spoke of a public pool, as well as the current floodwall project, which he said has become ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œstagnant.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ As for the water issues, he said thereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s some piping that needs to be replaced.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSo those are projects that need a lot of attention. SomebodyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s going to have to stay focused on it and stay right on top of it. TheyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re doing a lot of sidewalks and streets in town. I hope to continue that. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s made the town, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s improved it a whole lot, and I hope to continue that.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Moving forward, Bias says he expects his fair share of people calling him with their issues or advice, as he continues to be accessible for the public.
Bryant did not immediately respond to The Herald-DispatchÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s attempts to contact him following the election.
Recorder
Of the two candidates who competed for the cityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s recorder position, Phyllis Smith, the non-incumbent candidate, won with 681 votes, or about 69%.
Smith worked as the cityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s recorder in past years and has worked in magistrate court for 14 years as both an assistant and as a magistrate.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI worked hard to get (the job) and contact people, and I donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t know what else to say, but I work hard and I love the job,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Smith said Wednesday morning.
