Woodby ‘humbled and excited’ to serve as mayor
Published 2:17 pm Friday, August 5, 2022
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By Stacy Graning
Elizabethton Star
“Humbled and excited.”
That’s how Patty Woody described her emotions on Friday after being elected the first female mayor of Carter County.
“This is an exciting and trail-blazing moment,” said Woodby, who had been appointed to fill the unexpired term of the previous mayor. She won the election on Thursday, capturing 62 percent of the vote against two independent challengers.
“It makes me feel very humble and excited that the citizens of Carter County are going to trust me to be the county and their communities for the next four years,” she said.
Woodby garnered 4,136 and defeated independent challengers Devon Buck and Leon Humphrey Jr., who received 941 votes and 1,585 votes respectively.
In the race for sheriff, Mike Fraley defeated Rocky Croy 4,423 votes to 2,262.
“I’m overwhelmed by the support,” Fraley said Thursday night. “And I look forward to serving the citizens of Carter County.”
Fraley, who retired after a career of more than 30 years in law enforcement, has said that he has a plan to start “day one” on making improvements to the sheriff’s department. He and the other county officials take office Sept. 1.
“Well, I feel like I let some people down and maybe some people let me down,” said Croy. “But I’ve called Mike and told him congratulations, and I thank the people for their support.”
In other contested races, Roger Colbaugh was elected road superintendent, with 4,140 votes against 1,718 write-in ballots.
Four commission seats were contested in Thursday’s general election. Winners included;
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First District: Nick Holder, Robert (Bob) Acuff and Willie Campbell
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Second District: Nancy J.Brown, Julie Guinn and Avery “Pops” Wynn
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Third District: Steve Burrough, Brad Johnson and Angie Odom
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Sixth District: Donnie Cable, Pattie Duffield and Todd Smith
Tracy Tanner Harris, administrator of elections for Carter County, said turnout was very low. Only 6.7 percent of registered voters had cast ballots during the early voting stage, down from more than 13 percent in the 2018 election.
Results will be certified at 9 a.m. on Aug. 22.