Tuesday’s municipal election results showcased the community’s desire for change, with three new faces being elected to serve the people of Sedalia.
Traves Williams beat Andrew Dawson in the mayor race, David Covington defeated Bob Hiller in the Ward Three councilman race and Spencer Redford beat Rhiannon Foster in the Ward Four councilman race.
By 8 p.m., all 12 precincts had reported and the Williams watch party at Don Jose Mexican Buffet was abuzz with excitement.
“I'm not surprised because I've spent so much dedicating my life to this community, and I know how special this community is to me,” Williams said. “I never worried about the support, all the negatives. Hundreds of people defending my honor respected who I was as a character, as a person, and everything else.”
Williams received 63.94% of the vote. He tallied 2,018 votes, while the incumbent, Andrew Dawson, received 1,126. There were 12 write-ins cast, three of which went to write-in candidate Rick Thomas.
“Serving as your mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Dawson said in a statement. “This role has always been about service, showing up, doing the work, and putting this community first. While this chapter is ending, my commitment to serving this community does not. Sedalia is my home, and I will continue to do my part to support its future.”
Williams knows the hard work of changing a city for the better is still ahead, but he is confident now is the perfect time for a change.
“I’m excited about it because it's not my election to win, it's the City of Sedalia’s,” Williams said. “I rely on all their input to make it work best for them, just like I've done with every agency I've been a part of; it's all about this community. If we see something wrong in this community, we should address it.”
David Covington said he was excited about the prospects of a new team taking the municipal reins.
Covington received 60.86% of the vote, tallying 465 votes compared to Hiller's 295. There were four write-ins cast.
“History was just made today, and people spoke, they just spoke,” Covington said. “They did, they wanted change, so absolutely, and now it's time to get to work, it's time to get to work. They want change and change is coming, we heard the people cry, we heard their cry, and we're out there, we're going to work for them on behalf of the people of Sedalia.”
In Ward Four, Redford received 57.32% of the vote, beating incumbent Rhiannon Foster 591-432. There were eight write-ins cast.
“Crazy, honestly, I had no idea that I would have such an outcome for people who would vote for me like that,” Redford said. “We’re ready to make things happen and have some change, and hopefully everything goes for the better. I know it's going to have some learning curves, but we’ll hurdle over that and come out successful, I'm sure.”
Jack Robinson won reelection in Ward One, receiving 56.49% of the vote versus Adam Porter. He had 431 votes compared to Porter’s 322. There were 10 write-ins.
“I appreciate the confidence people expressed in me by voting for me,” Robinson said. “I intend to continue with the things I've done. I'm going to try to get the limitations on responding at the meetings repealed, but that may take a little while.”
Tina Boggess won reelection in Ward Two, receiving 56.33% of the vote against Christine Rene Meyer. Boggess received 276 votes while Meyer had 207. There were seven write-ins.
Incumbent Cheryl Ames extended her time as a Ward One councilperson for one year, receiving 95.78% of the vote. There were 28 write-ins.
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
