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Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

New faces elected to Perry council

PERRY — Some new faces were elected Tuesday to Perry City Council.

In District 2 Post 1, Joe Posey, 59, a retired educator, got 58 percent of the vote and ousted incumbent Joe Kusar, 59, executive vice president at Tolleson Lumber.

Unofficial vote totals showed 310 ballots cast for Posey, compared to 220 garnered by Kusar, who had held the post since 2002.

“It’s a relief it’s all over,” said Posey, who waited outside the Board of Elections office with some of the candidates for election results. “I want to thank the voters.”

Kusar, who said he did not expect to run again, said he would like to congratulate Posey, applaud him and others for running and thank him for running a good, clean campaign.

In District 2 Post 2, William Jackson, 59, an Ace Hardware owner, beat out Peggy Davis, 53, a Health Tech of Georgia Inc. teacher, with about 66 percent of the vote.

The seat was vacated by James Moore, who did not seek re-election.

“I’m looking forward to Jan. 1 and looking to see what we can do,” Jackson said.

Jackson captured 330 votes, while 167 were cast for Davis.

“Unfortunately, this is not my time,” Davis said. “But don’t count me out for I shall return.”

In District 3 Post 1, incumbent Charles Lewis, 71, a retired locksmith for Northrop Grummon Corp., lost his seat to challenger Randall Walker. 63, president of Walker Energy Group, an energy consulting company.

Walker thanked those who voted for him and also thanked Lewis for a well-run, competitive race.

Walker took the race with about 67 percent of the vote, receiving 326 ballots to 161 cast for Lewis.

“It was a good, clean race,” said Lewis, who held the post for 13 1/2 years before he decided not to seek re-election in 2003.

In 2008, he won a seat vacated by Brian Bowen in a three-way special election that included a run-off.

Jimmy Faircloth, 48, comptroller and human resources director for Parrish Construction, faced no opposition for mayor. Phyllis Bynum-Grace, 59, ran unopposed for her District 1 Post 1 council seat.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.