2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election explained

The 2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election was held on August 28, 2018, to elect members to the city council and mayoral positions.^[1]

Electoral process

Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Auburn for at least 90 days, be a U.S. Citizen for at least one day, and be registered to vote. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, then a runoff election is scheduled.

Mayoral election

Election Name:	2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election
Country:	Auburn, Alabama
Type:	Mayoral
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2022 Auburn, Alabama municipal election
Next Year:	2022
Election Date:	October 9, 2018
Image1:	Ron Anders.jpeg
Candidate1:	Ron Anders Jr.
Party1:	Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote1:	4,538
Percentage1:	54.2%
Candidate2:	David B. Hill
Party2:	Nonpartisan politician
Popular Vote2:	3,831
Percentage2:	45.8%
Mayor
Before Election:	Bill Ham Jr.
After Election:	Ron Anders Jr.

Incumbent mayor Bill Ham announced that he would not be running for re-election on 29 May 2018. Bill Ham had served as mayor of Auburn since 1998.^[2]

Candidates

Ron Anders Jr.

Former councilman Ron Anders Jr. announced his bid for mayor after endorsement from incumbent Bill Ham. He focused most on public safety and education, promising to provide safety to the community while giving them what they want.

Brittany Cannon Dement

Brittany Cannon Dement was the only woman who ran for mayor. She focused her campaign on looking at Auburn's future over the next ten to fifteen years. Additionally, another goal of hers was to make the government more transparent for the average citizen, including open mayoral forums.^[3]

David Hill

David Hill focused on how to better plan the city. One goal of his was to better educate the population on zoning laws and how they work, so that they will be able to offer their own input into the plans.^[4]

Lindburgh Jackson

Lindburgh Jackson ran to improve the treatment of the northwest area of Auburn, and focus on diversity issues in the community.^[5]

Jordan Langdon

Auburn University student Jordan Langdon filed paperwork to run for mayor on 24 July 2018. He ran on a platform to try to give younger people a chance.^[6]

Richard Speake

Richard Speake ran on a platform of the environment, joking about being the "Green" candidate in the race. One of his main focuses was banning styrofoam in the city.^[7] He was arrested twice following the election, for public intoxication and criminal trespassing.^[8]

First round

Six candidates were on the ballot for the first round of voting. No candidate received a majority of the votes, so the top two candidates by popular vote qualified for the final round of voting.^[11]

Runoff

The top two candidates from the first round advanced, consisting of former councilman Ron Anders Jr, alongside David Hill.^[12] The election was scheduled for 9 October 2018.^[13]

City council elections

Three of the eight incumbents chose to run for re-election.^[14]

Ward 1

Connie Fitch Taylor won the election with 69% of the vote.

Ward 2

As no candidate received a majority of the vote, Kelley Griswold and Todd Scholl advanced to the runoff election on 9 October 2018.

Runoff

Ward 3

As the only candidate, Beth Witten was elected to the city council unopposed.^[15]

Ward 4

No candidate received a majority of the vote, so the top two candidates, Brett Smith and Jim Ryan, advanced to a runoff.

Runoff

Ward 5

No candidate won a majority of the votes, so Steven Dixon and Walter Northcutt advanced to the runoff.

Runoff

Ward 6

Sarah Brown and Bob Parsons moved to a runoff due to neither candidate receiving a majority of the vote.

Runoff

Bob Parsons won the runoff in the closest election of the day.

Results

Ward 7

Jay Hovey won the election with 54% of the vote.

Ward 8

Tommy Dawson won the election with 52% of the vote.

Election summary

Position	Before election^[16]	After election	Image
Mayor	Bill Ham Jr.	Ron Anders Jr.
Ward 1	Verlinda White	Connie Fitch-Taylor
Ward 2	Ron Anders Jr.	Kelley Griswold
Ward 3	Beth Witten	Beth Witten
Ward 4	Brent Beard	Brett Smith
Ward 5	Lynda Tremaine	Steven Dixon
Ward 6	Dick Phelan	Bob Parsons
Ward 7	Gene Dulaney	Jay Hovey
Ward 8	Tommy Dawson	Tommy Dawson

External links

• Ron Anders for Auburn
• Bob Parsons Auburn Ward 6
• Elect Brad Donnelly

Notes and References

1. Web site: Here's what you need to know to qualify for Auburn's 2018 Municipal Election . WTVM News Leader 9 . 3 April 2024 . 26 June 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403161615/https://www.wtvm.com/story/38514728/heres-what-you-need-to-know-to-qualify-for-auburns-2018-municipal-election/ . live .
2. Web site: After 20 years, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham will not seek re-election . Alabama Today . 3 April 2024 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403162942/https://altoday.com/archives/23984-after-20-years-auburn-mayor-bill-ham-will-not-seek-re-election . live .
3. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . Only woman of six mayoral candidates: meet Brittany Cannon Dement . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 28 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403183132/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/brittany-cannon-dement . live .
4. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . After working in fast-growing communities around the country, David Hill wants to be Auburn's next mayor . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 28 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403164612/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/david-hill . live .
5. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . Meet Northwest Auburn advocate Lindburgh Jackson vying for Auburn mayor . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 28 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403182313/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/lindburgh-jackson . live .
6. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . Auburn sophomore announces candidacy for Auburn mayor . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 24 July 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403182312/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/07/auburn-sophomore-announces-candidacy-for-auburn-mayor . live .
7. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . Environmental advocate Richard Speake seeks mayoral seat . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 24 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403182313/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/richard-speake . live .
8. Web site: Jones . Alex . Former Auburn mayoral candidate arrested for the second time in a month . WSFA 12 . 3 April 2024 . 12 October 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403182313/https://www.wsfa.com/2018/10/12/former-auburn-mayoral-candidate-arrested-second-time-month/ . live .
9. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . Auburn Mayoral Candidates discuss City relationships, downtown Auburn at candidate forum Wednesday . The Auburn Plainsman . 16 May 2024 . 23 August 2018 . 16 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516220445/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/auburn-mayoral-candidates-discuss-city-relationships-downtown-auburn-at-candidate-forum-wednesday . live .
10. Web site: Auburn Mayoral Debate . YouTube . Eagle Eye TV . 16 November 2024.
11. Web site: Regular Municipal Election . City of Auburn . 3 April 2024 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403143954/https://www.auburnalabama.org/2018electionresults/regular-municipal-election/ . live .
12. Web site: Brownlee . Chip . Ron Anders, David Hill in runoff for Auburn mayor . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 29 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403164540/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/anders-hill-in-runoff-for-mayor . live .
13. Web site: Runoff Election . City of Auburn . 3 April 2024 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403144147/https://www.auburnalabama.org/2018electionresults/runoff-election/ . live .
14. Web site: Brownlee . Chip . Hurley . Elizabeth . A voter's guide to Tuesday's City Council elections . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 28 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403190103/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/a-voters-guide-to-tuesdays-municipal-elections . live .
15. Web site: Hurley . Elizabeth . Meet the Ward 3 City Council candidate . The Auburn Plainsman . 3 April 2024 . 26 August 2018 . 3 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240403185908/https://www.theplainsman.com/article/2018/08/meet-the-ward-3-city-council-candidates . live .
16. Web site: What you need to know about the 2018 Municipal Election . City of Auburn . 21 April 2024 . 12 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220812155819/https://auburnalabama.org/openline/August%202018%20Open%20Line.pdf . live .