BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Mike Casey, who has been serving as interim mayor for the City of Williamson, was elected to that seat Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Casey defeated challenger Joe Lycan by 532 votes to 257 votes.

Before being appointed interim mayor, Casey had been serving as a City Councilman for Ward 4, which is West Williamson and Fairview Additions of the county seat. He currently serves as the county medical examiner and was formerly a full-time fireman for the city, having retired from that position. He also served with the Williamson Police Department before becoming a firefighter.

Richard Wright received 14 write-in votes for mayor.

“I am extremely humbled and excited by the voters’ decisions by the great citizens of Williamson. To be given the opportunity by them to lead our great city in a comeback kind of way shows me that our city has the heart and resilience I know it has to accomplish anything we want to do,” Casey said.

“I believe I have a great team and together with our citizens, we will get projects, grants and the work of the people moving in the right direction. I am pleased with the outcomes of our city elections and I believe our council and myself will work very well together for the greater good of Williamson,” Casey added.

“I will be announcing in the near future my ideas and projects I would like to see happen and come to fruition. I believe our city will get behind these efforts and be very proud once again to have a city where they can live, work and play. I look forward to serving and working for the people with heart and integrity,” Mayor Casey concluded.

In the City Council races, Sherri Hairston Brown, who had previously served on the town council before being unseated in the last election by Stuart Hight, was reelected to that position for Ward 2, defeating Hight by a count of 92 to 70.

In Ward 3, which is the area for downtown and other residential neighborhoods, Ralphie Hall won reelection by defeating two challengers. Hall received 126 votes, while Helen Stanley had 49 votes and Kenneth May had 42.

Dewey Dingess won Casey’s old councilman position in Ward 4 by beating write-in candidate Tara “T-Baby” Sexton 241 votes to 22.

Joseph Bucci of Ward 1, which is East Williamson, was unopposed. Bucci served as interim mayor before Casey after the resignation of former mayor Charlie Hatfield.

The city changed the election to match up with the General Election. It was usually an “off-year” election in the past.

Williamson Mayoral race:

Mike Casey — 532 votes

Joe Lycan — 257 votes

Richard Irvin Wright Sr. (write-in candidate) -14 votes

Williamson City Council race:

Ward 2

Sherri Hairston Brown — 92 votes

Stuart Hight — 70 votes

Ward 3

Ralph Hall — 126 votes

Helen Stanley — 49 votes

Kenneth “Cooter” May — 42 votes

Clifford William Perkins (write-in candidate) — 2 votes

Ward 4

Dewey Dingess — 241 votes

“Baby T” Sexton (write-in candidate) — 22 votes

Ward 1

Joseph Bucci — unopposed