Ellijay Elections: Now What?

Looking for complete information on what happened and is happening in the Ellijay City Council Elections?

Let’s go through step 1: What Happened?

With the election only 3 people obtained sufficient votes to obtain a spot on the Council. These three candidates were:
David Westmoreland (Incumbent) with 189 votes.
Al Fuller (Incumbent) with 167 votes.
Ruth Caudell (Incumbent) with 155 votes.

This means that three of the five seats have been filled. Now, what happens next?

There will be a run-off on December 1st. No need to worry though, all citizens of Ellijay are allowed to vote again in the run-off. This election will fill the final 2 seats of the council and will include the next four highest voted candidates:

Lynelle Reece Stewart with 142 votes.
Katie Lancey (Incumbent) with 136 votes.
William Jerry Baxter with 130 votes.
Roy “Smitty” Smith with 129 votes.

This run-off only allows two candidates “per seat” to be included, so these four will openly vie for two seats. That means the three remaining candidates will not be included in the run-off:

Larry Robinson with 114 votes.
Scott Mcbride with 86 votes.
Patricia Kyle with 66 votes.

For more information, check on the legal script here:

Code of Ordinances, City of Ellijay, Georgia

Part I, Subpart A, Article V, Section 5.20. – Applicability of General Laws.

The procedures and requirements for election of all elected officials for the City of Ellijay as to primary, special or general elections shall be in conformity with the provisions of the Georgia Municipal Election Code, approved April 4, 1968 (1968 Ga. Laws, page 885), as now or hereafter amended.

Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-501

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, the word “plurality” shall mean the receiving by one candidate alone of the highest number of votes cast. If the municipal charter or ordinances of a municipality as now existing or as amended subsequent to September 1, 1968, provide that a candidate may be nominated or elected by a plurality of the votes cast to fill such nomination or public office, such provision shall prevail. Otherwise, no municipal candidate shall be nominated for public office in any primary or elected to public office in any election unless such candidate shall have received a majority of the votes cast to fill such nomination or public office.

(c) In instances in which no municipal candidate receives a majority of the votes cast and the municipal charter or ordinances do not provide for nomination or election by a plurality vote, a run-off primary or election shall be held between the candidates receiving the two highest numbers of votes. Such runoff shall be held on the twenty-eighth day after the day of holding the first primary or election, unless such run-off date is postponed by court order. Only the electors entitled to vote in the first primary or election shall be entitled to vote in any run-off primary or election resulting therefrom; provided, however, that no elector shall vote in a run-off primary in violation of Code Section 21-2-216. The run-off primary or election shall be a continuation of the first primary or election, and only those votes cast for the candidates receiving the two highest numbers of votes in the first primary or election shall be counted. No write-in votes may be cast in such a primary, run-off primary, or run-off election. If any candidate eligible to be in a runoff withdraws, dies, or is found to be ineligible, the remaining candidates receiving the two highest numbers of votes shall be the candidates in such runoff. The municipal candidate receiving the highest number of the votes cast in such run-off primary or run-off election to fill the nomination or public office sought shall be declared the winner. The municipality shall give written notice to the Secretary of State of such runoff as soon as such municipality certifies the preceding primary, special primary, election, or special election.