SANDER BEATS LONGTIME JACKSON MAYOR

JACKSON -- Jackson voters elected their first new mayor in 22 years Tuesday, as Ward 1 Alderman Paul Sander easily defeated 22-year incumbent mayor Carlton "Cotton" Meyer. Sander will take over as mayor in early May.

According to final tabulations, Sander got 57.2 percent of the vote, as he defeated Meyer, 1,556 to 1,145. Sander carried all four of Jackson's wards.

For the 74-year-old Meyer, it was his first defeat since being elected mayor in 1973, when he defeated then-mayor Paul Leonard.

Sander said his victory was the result of a lot of hard work and the tireless efforts of a large number of volunteers who worked in his campaign.

"To all of the volunteers who helped me, I give my heart-felt thanks. Without them, I could not have beaten an 11-term incumbent," Sander said. "I decided when I filed that I would go all out with my campaign. I wanted to make it my best shot. When I saw the large number of volunteers coming forth I knew then that it was a winnable thing."

Meyer expressed disappointment at the final vote, but added, "the people apparently wanted a change. I wish the new mayor success. I plan to continue to work for the success and growth of Jackson."

Sander said he plans to take a week off to rest, take down his campaign signs, and to plan for his new administration. "I have seven years experience being on the board of aldermen, so we can hit the ground running20without missing a lick," he said. "I plan to meet with the city attorney and city administrator later this month. I will also be working on naming members to my committees in late May."

Sander said by their vote Tuesday, the citizens of Jackson have indicated they want new ideas and changes in city government. "I have some new ideas for some different directions for Jackson," he said.

In the other contested city races, David Hitt defeated Vicki Abernathy, 432 to 204, in his bid for Sander's Ward 1 seat, and Incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Valerie Tuschhoff overcame strong opposition from Robert "Butch" Wright, to win a second, two-year term on the board. Tuschhoff received 386 votes to Wright's 351 votes.

In Ward 2, incumbent alderman, Kevin Sawyer had no opposition for another term. Also in Ward 2, Dave Reiminger was elected unopposed to fill out the one-year, un-expired term of former alderman, Phil Johnston, who resigned20in December after accepting a job in Oklahoma.

Ward 4 Alderman Jack Piepenbrok was also unopposed in his bid for another term, as was City Collector Beverly Nelson, who was elected to a second term.

Approximately 2,000 ballots were cast in the city election. There are 5,501 registered voters in Jackson.