CUMMING — Continuing a year of change, voters in Cumming on Tuesday elected Linda Ledbetter and Christopher Light to serve on the city council.
Ledbetter received 224 votes, or about 53 percent of the total, to hold off Julie Tressler, who drew 199 votes, or about 47 percent, in the Post 5 contest
Ledbetter, a retired educator and former Forsyth County commissioner, will be the first women to serve on the city’s five-member governing body since Dot Otwell, who held office in 1956 and ’57.
In Cumming elections, the top vote-getter prevails, and no runoff is necessary if the winner fails to get 50 percent of the vote plus one vote.
Light, a local attorney, prevailed in five-candidate race for the Post 4 seat with 171 votes, or about 39 percent.
He will become the second person in his family holding elected office as his mother, Darla Sexton Light, is the chairwoman of the Forsyth County Board Education.
Ledbetter and Christopher Light will begin their four-year terms in January.
Former county commissioner Jack Shoemake with 121 votes, or about 28 percent, was second to Christopher Light, followed by small business owner Avery Stone at third with 58 votes, or about 13 percent.
Rounding out the field were Dana Sexton in fourth at 43 votes, or about 10 percent, and Guy McBrayer, with 42 votes, or about 10 percent.
The third seat on the ballot Tuesday went to Post 3 incumbent Lewis Ledbetter, a first cousin of Linda Ledbetter, who was unopposed for the spot he has held since 1971.
The nonpartisan election Tuesday, open only open to Cumming residents, was conducted citywide.
There are 1,968 registered voters in Forsyth County’s lone municipality and turnout Tuesday totaled about 22 percent, or 441.
After not having had a contested election since 2003, and no turnover on the council since 1993, Tuesday’s contest marked the second of the year.
In June, local banker Chuck Welch won a special election to fill the 18 months remaining on the Post 1 term of Rupert Sexton, who stepped down to enjoy retirement. Dana Sexton is his wife.
Welch is a second generation councilman. His late father, Charles Welch, served on the city council from 1972-86 and later the Forsyth County commission.
Linda Ledbetter and Tressler, a real estate agent and small business owner, also ran in that special election.
Heading into Tuesday, two new members were guaranteed on the council, as Ralph Perry of Post 4 and John D. Pugh of Post 5 had announced in August they would not seek re-election.
Perry was first elected to the council in 1979 and Pugh in 1993. Both men cited health as a factor in their decisions.