McCalphia wins special election

By By William F. West / community editor
Feb. 27, 2003
NEWTON Eric McCalphia expressed relief Wednesday after being declared the winner over Eva McDonald in the special election for the Ward 3 board of aldermen slot.
The election was Tuesday, with McCalphia receiving 102 votes to McDonald's 96. The city election commission waited for Wednesday to announce a winner after counting 14 affidavit ballots.
The commission then declared McCalphia the winner with 106 votes, or 52 percent, to McDonald's 97 votes, or 48 percent.
City Clerk Geraldine Seal said that the commission declared five of the affidavit ballots were valid and that four of those were for McCalphia.
McCalphia said he wants to work with Newton's other aldermen.
McCalphia is a leather dye cutter for La-Z-Boy, while McDonald owns and operates a day care center.
McDonald could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
McCalphia and McDonald made Tuesday's runoff election after leading a four candidate field in Feb. 18 balloting.
The two were competing to fill the seat vacated by the Jan. 2 death of Alderman Charles Love. The winner will represent an area comprised mostly of Newton's west side.