Joines and Andrews are re-elected

With about 16 percent of Sparta voters turning out, Lois W. Sheets took a seat on Sparta Town Council by a one vote margin over long-time council member George Mack Irwin in a non-partisan election. Sheets took 81 votes, while Irwin took 80.

Meanwhile, incumbents Robert Andrews and Agnes Joines were re-elected, with 120 and 111 votes each, respectively. Andrews was being elected to a second term on council, while Joines will begin a third term. Three write-in votes were cast in the election. Cy Heravi, McCall and ‘Newfaces' each got one vote each, election results show.

All told, a total of 154 ballots were cast in the election. The town has 923 registered voters who were eligible to vote in the council election, which was held at the Sparta Town Hall for the first time this year.

Of the 154 votes, two were curbside ballots. Before the curbside ballots were counted, Sheets held a two-vote margin over Irwin. After they were factored in to the totals, that margin narrowed to one vote. After the election had ended, two of the candidates, Sheets and Joines, were on hand awaiting the results. Both Andrews and Irwin were at home when contacted by the newspaper for comments by telephone shortly after the election.

The town election was run by the Alleghany County Board of Elections again this year, using the county's EasyVote 2000 electronic voting machines. No problems were reported and results were printed at 7:38 p.m., just eight minutes after the election had ended.

Andrews said he was glad to be re-elected. "I am grateful for the confidence people showed in me, and I look forward to the next term," Andrews said.

"Whoever the town chose, the town would be in good shape," Andrews noted. "We had a good working relationship before; I'm sure we will with the new addition."

Joines said she appreciates each and every one that voted in the town's election.

"I will do my best to fulfill my obligations as a council member and anytime anyone needs to call me, I'm always there," she said. Meanwhile, Sheets said, "I appreciate all the support, everybody that supported me — and I look forward to working with the rest of the council members."

Irwin, who had served a total of 34 years on council, said he has been experiencing serious health problems. Irwin was at home and had not heard the election results when he was contacted by the newspaper.

Told he had lost the election by only one vote, Irwin said, "That makes me feel good. I do have some friends."

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