Two new faces headed to Fort Valley City Council

Fort Valley City Council will have two new faces following Tuesday's city elections.

Challenger LeMario Brown defeated incumbent Beth Collins 459-308 for an at-large seat. Collins has served on the council 12 years.

In a closer race, Alonzo Allen won the East Ward seat that was left vacant with the death of Councilman John Ezell on Jan. 31. Allen beat former Councilman Marvin Crafter 211-170.

Jimmy Barnes, a council member for 10 years, defeated Kenneth Hill in a 257-126 vote decision to retain his West Ward seat.

At-large seat winner Brown, who operates a small livestock farm and recently finished his master's degree, was making his second run for a seat on the council. He previously ran for the at-large seat that was won by Duke Lane.

"It's one of those things when you put in the work, it's a once in a lifetime feeling," Brown said. "I think we actually got out and shook the trees a little bit more."

Allen, an electrical contractor, was also making his second try at office. In the last election, he ran for the seat held by Lane. Tuesday, he attributed his win in the East Ward to prayer.

"I had a lot of people praying for me," Allen said. "I'm just glad its over. I really would just like to thank everyone who supported me."

In the West Ward race, Barnes had a big lead after the votes came in from the city's one precinct, but he had to wait to declare victory due to a large number of early votes and absentee votes.

"I feel as though the people made the right choice," he said. "I was very specific in the things I wanted to do in my tenure, and I'm going to stick by my word."

City Administrator Martha McAfee, who is also the election supervisor, said the City Council can vote to allow Allen to fill out Ezell's term until the end of the year. If the council does not vote to do that, Allen would take office in January when the next term starts.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 9:32 PM with the headline "Two new faces headed to Fort Valley City Council ."