Incumbents re-elected in 2023 municipal elections

Incumbents appear to have swept all the contested races in the 2023 municipal elections in Adel and Cecil.

According to election returns posted on Tuesday evening, Nov. 7, total voter turnout was 18.7 percent in Adel and Cecil. Of 3,214 registered voters, 601 ballots were cast. Election Day votes were 299; advanced voting, 285; absentee by mail, 17; and provisional, 0.

In Adel, incumbent Mayor Buddy Duke, who ran unopposed, received 406 votes. There were 33 write-in votes.

For Adel City Council District 1, Post 2, Gregory L. Paige (incumbent) received 139 votes, as compared to 56 votes for challenger Vivian D. Sharpe.There were three write-in votes.

For Adel City Council District 2, Post 2, Terry G. McClain (incumbent) received 219 votes, as compared to 133 votes for challenger Tabias Newsome. There was one write-in vote.

For the Mayor’s race in Cecil, James M. Spencer Sr. (incumbent) received 24 votes, as compared to 23 for challenger Talmadge Lamar Williams III. There was no write-in vote.

As of this week’s deadline, no recount had been requested in the election.

For Cecil City Council Post 1, incumbent Ben Pickett, who had no opposition, received 38 votes. There were four write-in votes.

For Cecil City Council Post 2, Marshall Williams, who was unopposed, received 37 votes. There was one write-in vote.

The municipal candidates all qualified without opposition for new four-year terms in Lenox and Sparks, so Lenox and Sparks did not have to conduct municipal elections.

The winning Mayor and City Council candidates for each municipality will be sworn in for their new terms to begin in January 2024.