FOREST ACRES, S.C. — Forest Acres resident went to the polls on Tuesday to elect the first new mayor in some 20 years, along with two new at-large city council members.
In the race for mayor, city council member Tom Andrews, who ran unopposed was elected with 810 (95%) votes. "After four years of service on city council, the last two as mayor pro tempore, I want to make sure Forest Acres remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family," Andrews said on his website.
Andrews, an attorney, becomes the first new mayor of Forest Acres in some 20 years, after longtime mayor Frank Brunson announced earlier in the year he would not run again. Brunson served as mayor for 20 years, and eight years on council before that.
Two newcomers, Stephen Oliver and Ryan Newton, were elected to two at-large council seats, defeating incumbent John Barnes and challenger Karly Shorter. Both will serve four year terms.
Stephen Oliver, a Forest Acres business owner, walked away with the most votes with 574 votes (33%).
Ryan Newton, a commercial real estate lawyer and son-in-law of outgoing mayor Frank Brunson, had the second highest vote total with 515 votes (29%).
Incumbent Barnes and Karly Shorter rounded out the vote with 432 votes and 240 votes, respectively.
The election results will be certified on Thursday, May 11.
Newly elected officials will be sworn in for four-year terms in July.