Newton Citizen

OXFORD - Oxford residents voted political newcomer Frank Davis into an Oxford City Council seat Tuesday in Newton County's only runoff election.

Davis received 92 of the 124 votes cast. Incumbent City Councilwoman Amma Gaither received the other 32 votes.

"I'm really happy," Davis said after election votes were tallied. "I'm looking forward to it."

Having no previous political experience, Davis said he has "a lot to learn.

"I know it will probably take a lot of time, but I'll manage somehow," he said. "I've come to the last two council meetings and work sessions to see what's going on. I'm going to go slow."

He will also attend a training session at the University of Georgia in February.

When he gets settled in, he plans to talk about owner-occupied homestead exemption, among other topics he feels are important to Oxford residents.

"I also want to talk about a sidewalk going north from Palmer Stone (Elementary School)," he said in November. "The new mayor (Jerry Roseberry) is interested in seeing that, and I'm interested in helping him."

He also wants to get more residents interested in the city by encouraging such things as voting.

"I'm a little disappointed in the turnout," he said of Tuesday's runoff.

Still, Oxford City Clerk Carol Poole said the turnout was good for a runoff election.

More than 7 percent of Oxford's registered voters - or 124 of 918 - cast votes Tuesday and in advance and absentee voting.

"That was about half the turnout of the general election," Poole said.

The general election saw 244 voters - 112 voted for Davis, 64 for Gaither and 56 for Kelly Ellis Sr.

Davis was competing against Gaither in the runoff because neither of the two candidates received the required 51 percent of votes in the November general

election.

Gaither said Tuesday after the election results were tallied that she congratulates Davis and that even though she will no longer be serving on the council, she still plans to attends meetings and be involved with city planning.

"I'm always here to support," she said.

Michelle Floyd can be reached at michelle.floyd@newtoncitizen.com.