Challengers win one town, incumbents two others

The mood of anti-incumbency carried the day in Westminster, as city voters elected a new mayor and three new councilmen.  Voters in two other Oconee municipalities gave a vote of confidence to their incumbents.  The unofficial results as provided by the Oconee Election Office gave challenger Brian Ramey the office of Westminster mayor, with 198 votes compared to incumbent Rick McCormick’s 94.  Council seats went to Susan Alexander Ramey with 206; Charles Miller, 148; and Ronald Dodson, 147.  Incumbents Jimmy Powell received 143 and Donna King Sheriff, 138.  Westminster voters cast 54 write-in votes in their council election.  In Walhalla, Mayor Danny Edwards defeated Dennis Owens, by notching 64% of the vote.  The breakdown gave Edwards 224 votes; Owens, 125.  Council winners were incumbents David Underwood, with 237; Danny Woodward, with 202; and T-J Bagwell, 176.  Randy Chastain received 165 and Davy Lee, 160.  Town of Salem voters were also kind to their incumbent council members.  Kevin Talley topped the ticket with 41, followed by second winner’s Lorenia Lee’s 34.  Vickie Towe received 27 votes.