CELINA-Willie Kerr received over 50 percent of the vote in a three-man mayor’s race to win election to the city’s top spot here last Tuesday, while two incumbents and one newcomer were elected to the three alderman seats.

Kerr (pictured at right) received 350 votes (51%) in the mayor’s race, while incumbent Buddy Thompson got 220 (32%) and Rush Rich got 114 votes (17%).

Incumbents Donnie Long and Don Haston retained their seats, being joined by political newcomer Joey Locke. Long received 374 votes, the most of any candidate in the city election, while Locke got 298 and Haston 288. Rounding out the ballot were Pat Burton (255 votes), Bill Donaldson (237) and Zac Dale (111). 

The new officials will take office July 1. As the top vote-getter in the aldermen’s race, longtime officeholder Long will serve as vice-mayor, according to the city charter. 

Kerr’s work experience includes “working for the city for 10 years, as well as a mechanic for OshKosh for 32 years,” he said in his announcement earlier this year. 

In his announcement, Kerr said if elected, “I will be a working mayor for all the citizens. My office will always be open for anyone who wishes to talk to me. I will work closely with the elected officials to improve our city any way I can.”

Kerr said in the announcement some of the goals he will work toward include: “water drainage problems, lowering the cost of water taps, keeping water rates down, striving to improve the unemployment rate and economy of Celina, keeping city taxes down, and applying for grants to extend sewage lines.”

Thompson has held the mayor’s office the past four years, and has served the city as alderman or mayor for 20 years. He served the city as mayor for three consecutive two-year terms in the late 1980’s and early ’90’s, and has served a total of 10 years as alderman.

Mayor’s race

Kerr……………….350

Thompson……….220

Rich……………….114

Aldermen

Long……………..374

Locke……………298

Haston…………..288

Burton…………..255

Donaldson………237

Dale………………111