Newberry elects three new commissioners

NEWBERRY – The citizens of Newberry voted for change over the status quo in city elections Tuesday.

Over 26 percent of registered voters turned out to vote on three city commission seats, two of which featured incumbents who both fell short.

In Commission Group One, Ricky Coleman defeated Commissioner Joe Hoffman, who had served on the commission since 2002. Coleman garnered 53 percent of the vote to Hoffman’s 47 percent.

Commission Group Three saw Commissioner Alena King Lawson lose in a rematch from the 2012 City Election to former commissioner Monty Farnsworth, 46.6 percent to 53.4 percent, respectively.

Jason McGehee bested Barbara Hendrix 62 percent to 38 percent in the Commission Group Two contest to fill the seat being vacated by Commissioner Lois Forte.

The new commissioners were sworn into office Wednesday morning at City Hall.

Several issues raised during the election were discussed as part of a candidate forum on Tuesday, April 1, including what qualities each candidate would look for in a new city manager; what each candidate envisioned Newberry would look like in 10 years; and what each candidate thought regarding the city’s acceptance of grant money.

As the election came to a close Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., opponents Coleman and Hoffman were both optimistic about the city’s future.

“A lot of people showed up to vote, probably a near record number,” Hoffman said. “I’ll live with the results, however they turn out. We’ll work on patching up any recent wounds that may have opened and bring the community back together.”

“It was very positive all day,” Coleman said. “There was a great turnout, and it was great to see everyone come together for the common good. I want to express my sincere appreciation to the citizens of Newberry for coming out.”

Coleman, Farnsworth and McGehee join sitting commissioners Tim Marden and Jordan Marlowe and Mayor Bill Conrad to round out the elected city officials.

The mayor and five commissioners serve two-year terms, with three seats up for election every year. The two commission seats held by Marden and Marlowe, as well as the office of mayor, will be open to election in 2015.

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