Valley’s mayor re-elected, three council members face runoff

Valley’s Mayor Arnold Leak was pleased to be re-elected to the city’s top post Tuesday night, but he had mixed feelings about the rest of the election results.
“I’m happy for me, but what I need is a team,” he said at the Valley Community Center.

Leak won his third term in office over first-time challenger and longtime Valley resident Jimmy Reese.

One member of Leak’s “team” — District 6 representative Charlene Atkinson — didn’t earn enough votes to stay on. Challenger Henry L. Cooper earned 125 votes to her 105. Other team members — James McDowell, Ray Edwards and Rodney Mitchum — who Leak called some of his strongest members — are in runoffs in Districts 1, 3, and 5, respectively.

The idea that the council could end up split after the Oct. 7 run-off election, with half newcomers and half veteran council members, didn’t sit well with Leak.

“That would be the worst thing that can happen,” he said. “This is such a critical time for the city. We’re not out of the water yet.”

Reese may have lost, but he’s still sticking by his campaign platform — that it’s a “time for change” in Valley. He said he’s seen the city go deeper and deeper into debt, and he’s determined to find out why. He claims he’s asked to see the city’s financial records, but has never been allowed.

Reese commended Leak for running a “good, clean race” and thanked those who supported him. Reese earned 815 votes, but it fell short of Leak’s tally of 1,152. The outcome, however, did not discourage Reese from vying for the seat in the future.

“I’m not through with this yet,” he said. “I have four years to campaign now.”

Other results in Valley:

District 1: Incumbent James H. McDowell (103) will face challenger O’Neal Shaw (112) in a runoff. David G. Smith earned 36 votes.

District 2: Incumbent Jim Jones was re-elected with 141 votes, while challenger Whit Bradley Jr. claimed 100.

District 3: Incumbent Ray Edwards (193) will face challenger Lisa M. Burdette (99) in a runoff. Harmon Bryant King Sr. earned 56 while Larry Reese earned 55 votes.

District 4: Incumbent Dr. Elizabeth M. Lyons was re-elected with 179 votes, while challenger Kim Smith nabbed 118.

District 5: Incumbent Rodney Mitchum (113) will face challenger Deborah Chambers (92) in a runoff. Frank Rittenberry earned 75 votes.

District 6: Challenger Henry L. Cooper won the seat earning 125 votes — 20 more than incumbent Charlene Atkinson, who earned 105.

District 7: Jimmy Gilson earned 137 votes to David A. Powell’s 121 to win the seat. Incumbent Shawn Jarrell did not seek re-election.

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