Mayor

Ann Baker – 1,116

Billy Joe Driver – 1,311*

Ralph Payton – 38

Clanton Ward 1

Jarrad Bates – 90

Bill Neussl – 122

Ronnie Porter – 189

Jeffrey Price – 302

Kendra Williams – 49

Clanton Ward 2

Bobby Cook – 259*

Mark Knight – 88

Vann Smith – 120

Clanton Ward 3

Bobby Easterling – 253*

Sammy Wilson – 237

Clanton Ward 4

Greg DeJarnett – 125

Juanita Parker – 33

Bill Trimble – 110

Annie Varner – 50

Clanton Ward 5

Paul Brooks – 61

Mary Mell Smith – 369*

* wins election, no run-off needed

Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver has won re-election again defeating current councilmember Ann Baker and Ralph Payton.

Driver earned 1,311 votes to take 53 percent of the vote, which means there is no need for a run-off. Baker received 1,116 for 45 percent of the vote, and Payton picked up 38 votes for 2 percent.

“I am so thankful for all those who came out and voted today,” Driver said last night. “Both sides ran a clean race. I’m just glad that it didn’t come down to a run-off.”

The closest race of the night was in Ward 3 where incumbent Bobby Easterling narrowly defeated Sammy Wilson 253-237 with 52 percent of the vote. This ward had more than 200 absentee ballots and was the last vote total to come in.

Big winners in Clanton were Mary Mell Smith and Bobby Cook. Smith, the incumbent in Ward 5, won in a landslide over Paul Brooks 369-61, taking 86 percent of the ballots.

Cook had two challengers but still managed 259 votes for 55 percent of the vote. Vann Smith had 120 votes, and Mark Knight had 88 votes also in Ward 2.

Wards 1 and 4 will both have run-offs. The run-off election will be held Oct. 7.

Ward 1 had the most overall votes in any precinct in the city. Jeffrey Price got the most votes with 302 for 43 percent of the vote while incumbent Ronnie Porter came in second with 189 for 27 percent. Others in the race were Bill Neussl (122), Jarrad Bates (90) and Kendra Williams (49).

Ward 4 has Greg DeJarnett and Bill Trimble are locked in a run-off. DeJarnett got the most with 125 for 39 percent, and Trimble has 110 for 35 percent. Annie Varner had 50 votes while Juanita Parker had 33.