With all precincts reporting, John Tyler Hammons won with 70
percent of the vote over former Mayor Hershel Ray McBride, said
Muskogee County Election Board Secretary Bill Bull.
"The public
placing their trust in me is the greatest, humbling and most awesome
experience I've ever had in my life," said Hammons, who is from
Muskogee but attends the university in Norman.
The two
candidates squared off in a runoff election for the nonpartisan post
after neither secured 50 percent of the vote in a six-person election
April 1.
Hammons, who will be sworn in next week, said he plans
to continue his college education but expects to transfer to a school
closer to Muskogee.
"Being elected does not change my desire to continue my education," he
said. "We will schedule our time in an appropriate fashion so that I
can be mayor and stay in school."
Hammons replaces Wren Stratton, who decided not to seek re-election after one term.
The mayor leads the nine-member city council and serves as a voting
member. Hammons said a key to his platform that resonated with voters
was openness of government and keeping citizens better informed of city
operations.
"I think that's been a detriment
to the trust of the citizens of Muskogee," he said. "Once we have that
trust, we can solve any other problem." |