NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION IS ON THE BOOKS! 

The November 5th municipal election is officially over.  And the winners are:  Incumbent Sundai Stevenson has won her bid for re-election to Ward One of the Rome City Commission; she will be joined by newcomers Mark Cochran and Jim Bojo.  In the race for Ward Three, incumbents Bill Collins and Craig McDaniel were reelected.  Challenger Bonny Askew also emerged as a victor in that race.

Voter turnout was low, but that was expected.  Tom Rees, the Chairman of the Floyd County Board of Elections and Registration, believes that no matter the size of the election, more people should get out and vote.

Local architect Mark Cochran says that he looks forward to implementing his plan for a bright future as a new member of the Rome City Commission.

Fellow newcomer Jim Bojo indicates that he, Cochran, and all the other City Commissioners might not always make the most popular decisions, but their choices will be geared towards what is best for the community as a whole.

Local attorney JJ Walker Seifert, who lost her bid for election to Ward Three, encourages local voters to continue efforts to effect change in the community; don’t just vent your frustrations on social media.

Voters in the City of Rome also approved the Sunday ‘brunch bill’, which will allow local restaurants to begin serving alcohol at 11 am on Sundays.

Just under 16 percent of registered voters in Rome participated in the election on Tuesday (and during early voting).

When voters return to the polls next year, they will cast ballots on new voting machines.  The elections board hopes to offer a public demonstration of these machines before the 2020 presidential primary in March, says Rees.

Rees adds that this particular election was the final one to be conducted with the old equipment.

Those newly elected to the Rome City Commission will be sworn into office in January.