WAYNE LAKES — Voters in the Village of Wayne Lakes Mayoral race elected R. Ellen Brown as the new mayor.
“I am very pleased and hope to bring in a lot of positive input to the village,” Brown said. “I know it was a pretty close race.”
The unofficial results were as follows: Brown received 98 votes or 43.56 percent, Philip L. Capps received 78 votes, or 34.67 percent and Alfred A. Hayes received 49 votes or 21.78 percent. In addition, the following candidates were elected to the council: Incumbent Karen A. Sink with 156 votes or 39.39 percent, Incumbent Joan Falknor with 139 votes or 35.10 percent and Melissa J. Capps with 101 votes or 25.51 percent.
Falknor said the Village is still recovering from the late Mayor Gary Lee Young’s passing.
“Although it is going to be hard to fill Gary’s shoes, we are looking forward to working with Ellen, continuing some programs and embarking on new ones,” she said.
Mayor Pro Tempore John McRoberts also said he was appreciative towards those that stepped forward.
“I am very pleased with the people that were willing to run for office,” he said. “I appreciated the citizens of our village putting forth the effort to vote. We are looking forward to working together for the well-being of our village.”
Director of the Darke County Board of Elections Luke Burton said looking back at elections similar to this one, which have trustees, council, board of education, and statewide issues; he expected to see a turnout around 50 percent.
“At the end of the day we had an abysmal 32.39 percent turnout,” he said. “I don’t have an answer for the low turnout. The number who voted may change only slightly for the official canvass to take place on Tuesday, November 21. Only absentee ballots which were post marked by November 6 and valid provisional ballots will be added to the unofficial canvass from election night.”
In addition, Burton extended some gratitude to those involved with the election process.
“I want to thank all the people who help get us ready for Election Day,” he said. “They include our Board members, staff, precinct election officials, the Greenville Rotary Club, the Greenville Police Department and several individuals who help sort supplies on election night. They all contributed to make this another successful, free and fair election. And of course thank you to everyone who voted absentee or at the polls.”
