The Columbia City Council will have two new faces when newly elected members take office at the beginning of the year, with newcomers Beverly Loy and Andrea Burke earning two of the six seats in Tuesday’s election.
Charles Grimsley, a former member of the council, also returns, joining incumbents Sharon Payne, Hannah Peck an Ronald “Butch” Rogers.
Incumbent Mark Harris filed for office but withdrew after learning he could not hold the seat and serve as a deputy sheriff. Incumbent Craig Dean lost his seat by two votes.
Payne received the highest number of votes at 577 votes, with Peck closely behind at 550 votes. Grimsley received 544 votes, Rogers received 489 votes, Loy received 458 votes, and Burke tipped the scale for the final of six seats with 454 votes. Dean received 452 votes and Richard Swartz received 266 votes.
Burke said during a telephone interview following the election Tuesday that she was shocked and grateful.
“Yesterday I thought of a couple of people that are our friends who live over in the neighborhood, and when I went through that neighborhood, they weren’t home. So, I was like, I am going to go hit those two because you never know, you might need those two votes. Low and behold, I won by two votes. I thought that was the craziest thing,” Burke said.
Burke said she is humbled that people showed confidence in her by taking time to vote for her.
“It’s crazy to think that I somehow persuaded 454 people to see the good in me and vote for me. They put their trust in me and thought I would do a good job. It’s just amazing really. I am just so excited,” she said. “I am looking forward to working with the other council members.”
Loy expressed her appreciation to voters during her first endeavor to hold an elected office.
“I am truly honored and grateful to the citizens of Columbia for placing their trust in me. Thank you to everyone who opened their doors, shared their thoughts and concerns, encouraged me, and supported my campaign,” she said. “I look forward to serving our community, listening to our citizens, working together, and helping move Columbia forward while preserving the small-town values that make it such a special place to call home.”
