2025 vote total of 536 represents just over a 55% turnout

CELINA-Residents and property owners here gave Celina Mayor Luke Collins an overwhelming vote of confidence in the city election, as the current town leader was granted a second term by receiving almost 55% of the vote.

Alderman Kenny Westmoreland, who was the only incumbent running in an eight-person race, was also re-elected to his post, and will be joined by former Clay County Commissioner Micheal Boles and political newcomer Tracy Mills on the city’s governing board.

When polls closed Tuesday night, Collins tallied 291 (54.91%) of the 530 mayoral votes cast in the 2025 city election, while former two-term mayor Willie Kerr garnered 174 (32.83%) and former vice-mayor and alderman Justin Rich received 63 (11.89%).  There were also two write-in votes cast (.38%).

Boles was the leading vote getter in the alderman race with 240 votes (18.13%) and will succeed Rich as vice-mayor, while Mills finished a close second with 230 (17.37%) and Westmoreland retained his seat with 186 (14.05%).

The other five alderman candidates finished as follows:

• Dawn Dale, 145 (10.95%);

• Timmy Boles, 142 (10.73%);

• Patty Spears, 135 (10.20%);

• Kenneth Dale, 125 (9.44%); and

• Christopher Hayes, 118, (8.91%).

A total of 536 votes were cast by the 958 registered voters here, representing a 55.95% turnout.

See next week’s Horizon for a full rundown of the 2025 City of Celina Election.