HUNTSVILLE | In a race featuring relatively low turnover on Scott County Commission, nine of the 14-member body will return for a new term beginning Sept. 1, while only one incumbent was defeated in Thursday’s election.
David Jeffers, a long-time representative of the 1st District who chairs County Commission’s Parks & Recreation Committee, was unsuccessful in his re-election bid, finishing with 321 votes, or 23.5% of the vote. He finished third in a four-way race, behind Allen “Ladd” Phillips. The other nine incumbents in the race were all re-elected, while four other newcomers won seats that are being vacated by incumbents who did not seek re-election.
In the 3rd District, Amy Jeffers — whose husband, Dennis Jeffers, was elected Scott County Mayor — did not seek re-election, nor did Sheila Buttram. In the 5th District, Robyn McBroom did not seek re-election. And, in the 6th District, Shon Terry did not seek re-election.
David “Blue” Day, a long-time incumbent, was the top vote-getter in the 1st District, with 427 votes. Phillips finished with 388 to claim the second seat in that district. Elaine Lowe finished fourth, with 229 votes.
In the 2nd District, incumbents Joyce Keeton and Taylor Buttram Stephens were re-elected to second terms, with 423 and 463 votes, respectively. Challenger Adam King finished with 266 votes.
In the 3rd District, Mike Keeton was the top vote-getter, with 392 votes. He’ll be joined on County Commission by Dacy Williams, a Scott High School educator, who finished with 345 votes. Retired Scott County Veterans Services Officer Ron Keeton finished with 274 votes, and former County Commissioner Daniel Murley finished with 254.
In the 4th District, incumbents Kenny Chadwell and Shonda Gray were re-elected without opposition, finishing with 464 and 454 votes, respectively.
Incumbent Kelly Chitwood was the top vote-getter in the 5th District, finishing with 482 votes. Zach Strunk will join her on County Commission, finishing with 382 votes. Ralph Trieschmann finished with 203 votes.
In the 6th District, challenger Jason Perry was the top vote-getter, with 381 votes. Incumbent Colby Burke retained his seat with 360 votes. Torrey Slaven finished with 330 votes.
In the 7th District, incumbents Jared Burke and Tom Payne were re-elected, with 676 and 605 votes, respectively. Anthony Carson finished with 286 votes and Kris Byrd with 151 votes.
Rhonda Marlow Davis was elected to the Scott County Board of Education in the 1st District, defeating incumbent Tommy Silcox. Davis finished with 513 votes to Silcox’s 350 votes.
Kim Kidd was re-elected to the school board in the 4th District with an uncontested campaign, finishing with 618 votes.
In the 5th District, incumbent Angela King survived a tough re-election challenge from Roger Douglas, finishing with 408 votes to Douglas’s 341.
In the 7th District, incumbent Tressa Murphy was re-elected with 703 votes, while challenger Matt Stiltner finished with 414.
In the Oneida Special School District, incumbents Kevin Byrd and Mark Matthews were re-elected to the board of education, with 426 votes and 423 votes, respectively. They’ll be joined by Stuart Jones, who captured 370 votes to secure the seat being vacated by Dorothy Watson. Benji Jacobs finished with 334 votes.
Total voter turnout in Thursday’s election was 45%, which was Scott County’s lowest turnout on the four-year major election cycle in the modern era.
