Newton, Decatur voters face run-off next week

By By William F. West / community editor
Feb. 19, 2003
Newton and Decatur voters will return to the polls next week to settle runoffs in the two cities' special elections to fill vacant board of aldermen slots.
Eric McCalphia and Eva McDonald will meet in the race for the Ward 3 slot in Newton, while Max Anderson and Bobby Stevens will meet in the race for the Ward 1 post in Decatur. Both runoffs are Feb. 25.
On Tuesday, McCalphia and McDonald led a field of four candidates trying to replace former Newton Alderman Charles Love who died Jan. 2.
McCalphia had 67 votes, or 37 percent, while McDonald had 61 votes, or 34 percent. Other results were Jerry Collier with 32 votes, or 18 percent, and LaShunda Love with 20 votes, or 11 percent.
In Decatur on Tuesday, Anderson and Stevens led a three-man field trying to replace former Alderman Mike Miller. Anderson had 31 votes, or 48 percent, Stevens had 23 votes, or 36 percent, and Robert Burton had 10 votes, or 16 percent.
Mikel Denson, who was disqualified from the election, received 13 write-in votes. Decatur City Clerk Jinya Lee Clarke said those votes will be thrown out.
Stevens was unavailable for comment.
Anderson said he believed the turnout was good for a special election in a small town. "And I hope we'll have the same turnout again next week," he said.
McCalphia couldn't be reached for comment about his showing in the Newton race.
McDonald said she is upbeat about her chances for victory next week. She said she believes she'll pick up some votes from those who cast ballots for the other two unsuccessful candidates.