Reich wins Gainesville mayor race, Bushong wins east ward by write-iny

Deanna Gail Reich was re-elected April 3 to another two-year term as Gainesville mayor, receiving 83 votes to opponent Carroll Wise’s 55. Four write-in votes were cast.
No one filed for the east ward alderman seat currently held by Lyndell Strong. Fifteen total  write-in votes were cast, with Lana Bushong receiving 4 votes while Lyndell Strong and Davin Friend each received 2. One vote each was cast for Kasey Friend, Ed Doiron, “Rocky,” Linda Harlin and Lance West. The remaining three votes were not listed with the official election results.
Bushong had told the Times earlier that she would serve if enough write-in votes were cast for her.
Incumbents Lee Bowen, center ward alderman, and Rocky Sullivan, west ward alderman, filed for re-election and ran unopposed. Sullivan received 23 votes in the west ward, and Bowen received 47 votes in the center ward. Two write-in votes were cast in the center ward, but the names were not listed in the official election results.