Donna Thornton, Editor
It was a tough election for incumbents in the City of Boaz, with two current office-holders failing to make the runoff and a third losing his seat to a challenger.
The totals saw two-term Mayor David Dyar coming in third in the voting. Former Mayor Tim Walker will face Jana Pair in a runoff. Walker took 753 votes to Pair’s 585. Incumbent Mayor David Dyar received 450 votes.
“We’re very excited with the results,” Walker said. “I will reach out to Mayor Dyar about his support. He and I have been friends – we grew up together. I appreciate him and I appreciate the people who’ve worked so hard,” he said, in his campaign.
“They’ve already made a commitment to work hard,” Walker said in the runoff.
He said the strategy will continue to be “getting your people out.” Turnout, he said, will be more important with fewer races and candidates on the ballot.
“You’ve got to get people to the polls,” he said.
For Dyar, the outcome was not what he’d hoped for, but he said he’s content with that.
“It was His plan and He has a purpose,” Dyar said. “I’m just honored to have been mayor for nine years.
“The people have spoken,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to what comes in November, when the new administration takes over.
“It’s been a great ride,” Dyar said.
Pair said she’d have liked to have received more votes in the race, but she’s excited to be in the runoff for the next four weeks.
She said during her campaign, she found people ready for a change. “The same two people have been in office for 25 years,” Pair said, the desire to move on and move forward is what put people “on my train.”
She said she heard concern about the loss of so many industries in the city in such a short time. Pair said the city should be looking at incentives to bring industry rather than putting more money in the outlet center property “like it’s going to come back to life.”
In Boaz council races, only Rodney Frix won his race outright, defeating incumbent and longtime council member David Ellis, 1,210 votes to 539 to take Place 1.
Steven Bates will face Riley S. Young in a runoff for Place 2. Bates received 786 votes to Young’s 620, while Darla Lasseter got 344 votes.
Kevin Brooks Jr. and Alan Hales will square off in the runoff for Place 3. Vote totals in their race were: Brooks 593, Hales 831, and incumbent Johnny Willis had 323.
