The Covington mayor's race turned out to be a landslide victory for Ronnie Johnston, who captured 1,032 votes, 77.3 percent of the vote, and Sunday package sales, which captured 868 votes, or 65.8 percent.
"This process has been absolutely amazing for me. The biggest reward of the whole thing for me is that I have met some phenomenal people in Covington. I'm so excited to have this opportunity to be y'alls mayor," Johnston told his supporters Tuesday night.
He thanked all of his supporters, including his wife and campaign manager Kelley Johnston.
"A lot of people said ‘We don't really know who Ronnie Johnston is.' I will promise you this, in the next four years you will know who Ronnie Johnston is and you will vote for me even more than you did this time," he said.
Challenger Bobby Sigman said he cost himself the election, as he ended up with only 21 percent of the vote with 282 votes.
"The publicity I received, it was just bad and that turned a lot of people off. It cost the election. I realize that. A stupid mistake I made. That's it. I just beat myself. I don't blame no one but myself," Sigman said Tuesday night. "I'm the one that's responsible, and I'm willing to step up to the plate and take that responsibility."
Sigman thanked his supporters for standing by him, and also congratulated Johnston who he believes will carry the city forward well. Sigman said he does not plan to run again.
"I'll be 71 yeas old in a little while, and I think its time to let the young boys take over and run the city and city and county," he said.
Write-in candidate Rev. James T. Walden garnered 1.5 percent of the vote with 20 votes.
A total of 1,364 voters cast a ballot - 21.4 percent of registered voters - which is slightly lower than the turnout in the 2007 election.
In the council seat races, both incumbents, Keith Dalton and Michael Whatley, were reelected.
Dalton won with 51.1 percent of the vote (440 to 419 total votes), and Whatley won with 50.8 percent of the vote (433 to 416 votes).
"We're very excited to be back, and we're looking forward to four more years," said Dalton.
"It was a close one, but I'm thrilled at the outcome, said Whatley. "You can look at it two ways, either ‘Why was it so close?' or you can look at it that we came out ahead in the end. I think it was so close because people out there are looking for changes everywhere. I just had more votes on my side that wanted me back in."
Whatley thanked opponent Ronald Martin, who couldn't be reached Tuesday, for running a good, clean race.
Lamar Brown, who ran against Dalton, said he was disappointed that he lost, but also happy that the results were so close.
"The support I received was overwhelming. I didn't know what to expect; I'm so grateful to my supporters," Brown said. "I think the message was pretty dog-gone clear. I hope the city council will take heed to a little advice and have some open discussion. Discuss all the issues that come before them and act right. They need to do what's best for the city."
He did not rule out running again in the future, especially if he doesn't see any improvement among the council. In the meantime, he will continue to focus of his activities as chairman of the Yellow River preservation group.
