10:05 p.m.
With absentees tallied, Keith Gaskin leads Robert Smith 2,862 to 2,796. Montrell Coburn has 67 votes. There are 158 total affidavits to be processed Wednesday. Gaskin handily beat Smith on election day votes, but Smith closed to within 66 votes by outpacing his challenger 613-249 on absentees.
In Ward 1, Ethel Stewart opened her lead on Kallie Phillips to a 773-140 margin, meaning she will return to the council. In Ward 4, Marty Turner closed the gap with absentees, but Pierre Beard still leads 417-390. Rusty Greene appears to have won Ward 3, earning 747 votes to Sally Brown Tate’s 550 and Kori Bridges’ 50.
9:52 p.m.
With all election day boxes in, Keith Gaskin holds a 2,613-2,183 lead over incumbent mayor Robert Smith. Montrell Coburn has 62 votes. Ethel Stewart now leads 557-110 with the third election day precinct counted in Ward 1. Absentees totals have not been reported in any race.
9:30 p.m.
With 12 of 13 precincts reporting, Keith Gaskin has opened a 2,576 to 2,018 lead over Robert Smith in the mayor’s race. Montrell Coburn has 57 votes. This does not count absentees.
In the Ward 3 council race, Republican Rusty Greene leads with 667 votes. Democrat Sally Brown Tate has 478 and independent Kori Bridges has 49. Only absentees and affidavits are left to count in that race. Pierre Beard’s lead in Ward 4 has widened, as he took the election day vote 377-288 over Marty Turner with absentees and affidavits left to count.
With a second precinct in, Ethel Stewart is ahead of Kallie Phillips 388-78. Phillips has conceded the race on social media.
8:55 p.m.
With the first results starting to trickle in, Incumbent Democrat Robert Smith leads the mayor’s race with 672 votes over independent Keith Gaskin’s 592 and independent Montrell Coburn’s 16. Only four of 13 precincts are reported.
Incumbent Ethel Stewart Taylor, a Democrat, has a commanding 269-63 lead over independent Kallie Phillips with one of three precincts reporting. In Ward 4, incumbent Pierre Beard, an independent, leads Democrat Marty Turner 81-72 with one of three precincts reporting.
Polls close at 7 p.m. This article will be updated throughout the night as election results are available. There are three candidates vying for mayor and three competitive council races — in Wards 1, 3 and 4.
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