It appears that East Ridge voters have returned Councilwomen Esther Helton and Aundie Witt back to seats on the East Ridge City Council.
And, in the two referenda on the ballot, voters overwhelmingly approved to allow sale of liquor in package stores and permit candidates who live outside of the city limits to run for Municipal Judge.
At 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Helton had 4,569 votes and Witt 2,996 votes as the top two candidates in a field of six.
Jeff Ezell, who was running his second consecutive campaign for council, garnered 2,599 votes, while former Councilman Denny Manning had 2,464.
David Tyler, running for the first time, amassed 1,424 votes. Robert Gilreath Jr., running in his second bid for council, had 1,340 votes.
In the referendum that would permit retail liquor sales in stores, the voters approved the measure by almost a 3-to-1 margin.
The referendum that would permit a person living outside of East Ridge but within Hamilton County to seek the office of Municipal Court Judge passed by a margin of 2-to-1.
Helton won her second term on the council. She also has apparently been returned to the State House representing District 30 by defeating her Democratic opponent Joseph Udeaja, 19,044 votes to 11,875.
Witt, who was appointed by the council to fill the seat vacated by Brian Williams, who ran successfully for mayor in 2018, was returned to office for a four-year term.
Incumbent Republican state Sen. Todd Gardenhire will get a third term in District 10, as he beat back a determined effort by Glenn Scruggs. Overwhelming support in Bradley County was the key to Gardenhire’s 53 percent to 46 percent margin of victory.
