Bentley, Hilyer locked in run-off

Published 11:04 pm Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Mayor

Tom Bentley – 174

Tracia Bussey – 116

Dearl Hilyer – 237

Thorsby Place 4

Harry Adkins – 206

James Shropshire – 299*

Thorsby Place 5

Jack Allen – 179

Tara Jewell – 334*

* wins election, no need for runoff

A run-off will be needed to decide Thorsby’s mayoral position, as neither incumbent Tom Bentley (32.4 percent of the vote) nor challengers Dearl Hilyer (44.6 percent) and Tracia Bussey (21.8 percent) could muster the necessary 50-percent-plus-one vote needed to claim the office.

The run-off will be held Oct. 7.

Hilyer received 235 votes out of the 527 counted to lead Bentley with 171 votes and Bussey with 115 votes.

Thorsby City Council Place No. 4 incumbent James Shropshire held off challenger Harry Adkins with 59.1 percent of the vote to Adkins’ 40.9 percent.

The other seat up for grabs will have a new body in it. Challenger Tara “Hunt” Jewell defeated incumbent John (Jack) Allen with 65.3 percent of the vote to 34.7 percent.

Incumbent Neal Benson is unopposed for the Place 1 seat on the town council.

Incumbent Jean Nelson is unopposed for the Place 2 seat on the town council.

Incumbent Willis Britt is unopposed for the Place 3 seat on the town council.

– Stephen Dawkins can be reached at stephen.dawkins@clantonadvertiser.com.