Lexington will have a full city council for the first time since 2024 but no election, as former mayoral candidate and past city council member Cory Crayton has qualified for the open seat unopposed.
Cory Crayton
Lexington’s special election scheduled for March 17 to fill an empty city council seat has been canceled.
Cory Crayton qualified for the empty seat and was unopposed. He said in an email that he is returning to the seat after stepping down to run for mayor.
Crayton, who served on the council from January 2023 through last year, will fill the fifth and final seat, joining Ronnie Boggs, Jill Severn, Andrew Westbrook and Jennifer Whitlock.
“Finally, a full house,” Lexington city clerk Kim Bradford said.
She said Crayton’s return follows multiple council changes the past few years.
Greg Reece stepped down in August 2023, followed by Cindy Haynes in October 2023. Whitlock was elected in a March 2024 special election, and the remaining seat had been vacant ever since.
Also, Craig Snow resigned as mayor last May.
Boggs, as pro tem, served as mayor until December. Evelyn Reece, who won the mayoral election over Crayton, started her term this year.
Council members serve two-year terms. Bradford said the incumbents remain in their seats if no one qualifies to run, removing the need for an election.
Council members are paid about $10 per meeting, Bradford said.
Primary qualifying
begins March 2
Qualifying for seats on the Oglethorpe County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education begin at 9 a.m. Monday, March 2. It ends at noon Friday, March 6.
The seats on the ballot include Districts 1, 3 and 5 on the board of commissioners and Districts 3 and 5 on the BOE.
The commission seats are held by Howard Sanders (District 1), David Clark (District 3) and Tracy Norman (District 5).
Norman said Tuesday that he plans to run again.
The BOE seats are held by Susan Robinson (District 3) and Becky Soto (District 5).
Soto, who serves as the chair, said earlier this month that she will not seek reelection.
Qualifying fees are $126 for the commissioner seats and $43.20 for the BOE seats.
Those interested in running should go to the Board of Elections & Registration office (41 Fairground Road in Lexington) to qualify.
The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Absentee ballot
applications start
The Oglethorpe County Board of Elections will begin accepting applications for mail absentee ballots in the general primary on March 2.
Request an application by calling the elections office at 706-743-8954.
The general primary is scheduled for May 19.