Don Randolph, incumbent Ward 2 city commissioner, said, “I’m proud they voted for me, but I’m disappointed we had such a low voter turnout.”
Randolph defeated Charley L. Davis Jr. by a vote of 38 to 13.
In Ward 4, Matthew W. Bennett defeated Carol Wood by a vote of 93 to 78.
In the two school board elections held Tuesday, voter turnout was a little higher.
In Roland, Jerry Brooks defeated John Dean by a vote of 175 to 57 for Office No. 4 on the Roland School Board. Brooks is the incumbent school board member.
In Vian, Bill Reynolds easily defeated his opponents by a large margin. Reynolds received 199 votes; Carlotta Scarborough received 36 votes; and Annie J. Goolsby received 10 votes. Reynolds is also the incumbent school board member and has served eight years. His new term will be for five years.
Winner wants Farmer’s Market
Randolph said the City of Sallisaw is doing well, and he hopes it continues.
In the immediate future, Randolph said he would like to see a Farmer’s Market established in downtown Sallisaw. That would benefit both the growers and the businesses in the downtown area. He noted the Sallisaw Farmers’ Market Group will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds in Sallisaw, and he hopes to attend the meeting.
“I used to have my own farmer’s market out here,” Randolph said. He lives on the west side of Sallisaw. “The ladies would come out here because they liked to buy fresh produce.”
Randolph said he would like to see residents seek out fresh produce again.
“We would set it up on the library parking lot on the west side of the library,” Randolph said. “There is plenty of shade, and people could sit around and visit. It would be a wonderful place.”
Randolph said, “We’ve got a lot of good things going on in the city that I approve of.”
But the declining economy is a worry he said.
About two of Sallisaw’s biggest businesses — BorgWarner Morse TEC and Choctaw Blue Ribbon Downs — Randolph said he would like to see both continue to operate and provide jobs. He said he has heard the rumors that both are in the process of being sold, but as far as he knows it is only rumors.
“We hope both would stay and be profitable,” he said. “We don’t want to lose anyone. I cringe every time I hear of something else closing.”
Randolph said he and his opponent, Davis, visited after the election results were announced Tuesday evening.
“We ran a clean campaign,” he said. “We did it in style. There was no mud slinging. Of course we have different opinions on some things, but I think I may have made a new friend.”
Randolph concluded, “I thank everyone who went to vote and voted for me.”
Randolph will serve a three-year term.
Bennett, who defeated Carol Wood for Ward No. 4 city commissioner, thanked everybody who helped him, his family, friends and colleagues during his campaign.
He will replace Commissioner Wayne Ferguson on the city commission. Ferguson did not seek re-election.
Bennett said, “I am looking forward to forward thinking for Sallisaw.” Bennett thanked his opponent for a clean campaign.
“I want to say thank you for Carol Wood for running a professional campaign,” Bennett said.
Bennett said he will be adding a new telephone landline so that any of his constituents in his ward may contact him at anytime.
Bennett said he was disappointed at the low voter turnout, but he added, “I am happy to have been elected.”
