BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

KERMIT — Kermit is ready for the upcoming municipal election scheduled for June 11, Mayor Charles Sparks announced in a Feb. 12 Council meeting. The election will see residents voting for a mayor and five council members as their future leadership.

Sparks, who has been at the helm since stepping in for the late Mayor Johnny Linville in 2015, is running unopposed.

The council sees incumbents Tammy Hodge, Dr. James W. Endicott, Wilburn “Hawkie” Preece and Peggy Moore vying for reelection.

After a 26-year tenure, Council Member Anna Mae Sartin Wellman has decided to step down from public service to spend more time with her family.

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Wellman said. “I’ll be anxious to help in any way I can.”

The race for council seats heats up with new candidates Floyd Scott Smith, Doug Collins, Tim Crum, Nicholas Spaulding, Etta Lea (Kiser) Blankenship and Denise Williamson throwing their hats in the ring.

The winners will take office July 1.

Aimed at future elections, Mayor Sparks proposed a model inspired by the city of Williamson’s shift last year to nonpartisan elections, aligning its municipal elections with the county’s general elections. Sparks said it not only streamlined the process but resulted in cost savings. This adjustment entailed Williamson officials ending their current terms six months early, with the newly elected officials taking office Jan. 1.

“It would save the town a lot of money,” Sparks said.

Given its existing election cycle alignment with the general elections, the mayor believes this move would be a seamless transition for Kermit.

Election calendar

• Deadline for candidates to withdraw from the election — March 19;

• Deadline for write-in candidates to file — April 23;

• Deadline for the delivery of absentee ballots to the town recorder — April 26;

• Last day to register to vote in the municipal election — May 21;

• Early in-person voting period, except Sunday, June 2 — May 29 through June 8;

• Emergency absentee voting period — June 4 through noon June 11;

• Deadline for absentee applications — June 5;

• Last day absentee ballots will be received without a postmark — June 12;

• Last day absentee ballots will be received that are postmarked by Election Day — June 17;

• Canvassing begins, with the results being declared at the end of that day’s canvassing — June 17;

• Election results are certified 48 hours later for races not being challenged with recount requests — June 19.