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No surprises in Covington mayor race
Packed races in Porterdale, Social Circle
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Rumors were flying around town Friday about last-minute entrants into the Covington mayor's race, but at the end of the day no one else stepped forward.

A group of citizens visited current Mayor Kim Carter at her home Friday and asked her to reconsider her decision not to seek reelection.

"I must say that I did give careful reconsideration today. But, in the end, I must stick by my decision," Carter said in an email Friday afternoon. "I wish the best for all citizens and businesses in Covington and am proud and grateful to have served as mayor for the last four years."

Earlier in the week, developer and former county commissioner Hubert White told The News he had considered a mayoral run but ultimately decided against it.

The race will be between Ronnie Johnston and Bobby Sigman.

Longest-serving Covington Councilwoman Janet Goodman will be reelected in November as she faces no opposition; she was first elected in 1978.

Covington's other two council races will be two-man affairs, while the city of Oxford and town of Newborn won't need to bother with elections because no races are contested.

Council Post 2 in Newborn was the only seat that did not have a qualifier. Town Clerk Lisa Rowe said the mayor and council will appoint someone to Post 2 when the seat becomes vacant after Jan. 1. Dennis Fincher was the incumbent but decided not to seek reelection. He was appointed after John Donaldson resigned the seat when he moved out of town.

Porterdale will have some hotly contested races including the race for Post 3, where three candidates qualified Friday. Post 3 will be a two-year term to fill the remainder of Arline Chapman's term because she resigned the post to run for mayor.

The mayor's race in Social Circle became more crowded Friday as two more men threw their hats into the ring - Joel Biggs and Barron Steward. The four contenders will seek to replace Mayor Jim Burgess, who is not seeking reelection.

Finally, longtime Mansfield Mayor William Cocchi is stepping down because of health problems. Cocchi, 81, said he has served around 15 years and simply feels burned out.

"It's nothing other than that. I don't have any quarrels. Everybody's been good to me," he said Friday. "Maybe we'll get somebody younger in there; somebody who wants to see some more growth. Because I just want it to stay the same, closer to the way the Indians had it."

Two hopefuls will vie for the top seat in the 410-person city.

The General Municipal Election will take place Nov. 8. The last day for a person to register to vote in the election is Oct. 11. The preceding Monday is Oct. 10, Columbus Day; the Newton County Board of Elections will be closed that day.

Early voting is tentatively scheduled to begin Oct. 17; absentee ballots are already available.

Below are the final candidates for all cities in Newton
County and the city of Social Circle:

Covington
Mayor - Ronnie Johnston; Bobby Sigman
Council West Ward Post 1 - Janet Goodman (incumbent)
Council East Ward Post 2 - Ronald Martin; Mike Whatley (incumbent)
Council East Ward Post 3 - Lamar Brown; Keith Dalton (incumbent)

Oxford
Mayor - Jerry Roseberry (incumbent)
Council Post 1 - Frank Davis (incumbent)
Council Post 2 - George R. Holt (incumbent)
Council Post 3 - Lynwood (Lyn) Pace

Porterdale
Mayor - Arline Chapman; Bobby Hamby (incumbent)
Council Post 1 - Robert Foxworth (incumbent); Anita Rainey
Council Post 2 - Linda Finger (incumbent); Darlene Savage
Council Post 3 (two-year term) - Terry A. Barnes; John Wayne Maddox Jr.; Tim Savage

Newborn
Council Post 1 - Gene Downs (incumbent)
Council Post 2 - none; will be appointed by mayor and council after Jan. 1

Mansfield
Mayor - Chris Fulmer; Estona Middlebrooks
Council Post 1 - Orville McGunigal (incumbent); Marty Smallwood
Council Post 2 - Helen Robertson (incumbent); Theresa Smallwood
Council Post 4 - David Nadell; Lisa Dunn

Social Circle
Mayor - Joel Biggs; Hal Dally; Hosea Jackson; Barron Steward
Council Post 2 - Angela Porter (incumbent)
Council Post 4 - Crenan Mills; Steve Shelton
City School Post 1 - Larry Cross; Shannon Thornton Davis
City School Post 3 - John Callahan; Alan D. Howard, Sr.; Robbie Groves