Tuesday night’s Opelika election results revealed no major surprises. Incumbents are often the favorites heading into an election as people are sometimes hesitant for change unless a major overhaul is clearly obvious.
The only change in Opelika government will come in Wards 2 and 3 as city council members Clarence Harris (2) and Jerry Teel (3) did not seek re-election.
Many believed Mayor Gary Fuller would garner more votes than challenger Rainer Meadows, and he did.
Many believed Ward 1 councilwoman Patsy Jones would garner more votes than challenger Greg Jones, and she did.
Many believed Ward 5 councilman William Lazenby would garner more votes than challenger Rick Gaught, and he did.
Many believed the three-person race in Ward 2 between winner Larry Gray, Arturo Menefee and Jerry Katz would be relatively tight, and it was.
Many believed the five-candidate showdown in Ward 3 between top vote-getter Lucinda Samford Cannon, Joey Motley who received the second-most votes, Loren Sutton, Preston Long and Janice Golden would result in a runoff, and it did. Voters return to the polls Oct. 7 to determine whether Motley or Cannon will represent the ward.
The incumbents have full knowledge of the challenges Opelika faces: education, crime, economic development and infrastructure. They’ve dealt with similar issues in the past. We are also encouraged to know the new faces on the council, Gray in Ward 2 and Cannon or Motley in Ward 3 are well-schooled on the issues and have ideas to help create an even better municipality.
Gray, a U.S. Naval veteran who has a passion for helping kids and said he is a “mouthpiece of the people of my ward,” is focused on improving education, quality recreation and equal police protection.
Motley, a longtime manager at West Point-Stephens, said he wants to make sure Opelika’s school system can keep up with the challenges that growth bring.
And Cannon, who is involved in numerous civic groups and activities, is “no stranger to a boardroom” and said the city can’t afford to forget the small business owners. “We need to encourage them and support them,” she said.
These thoughts are just the tip of the iceberg for these candidates, and Gray, who has already won a seat on council.
It’s a good feeling knowing that Opelika voters picked a fine cast Tuesday night. Now is the time for the council members to prove the voters right.
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