Sweetwater voters spoke their minds about liquor by the drink, the mayor's race and City Commission on June 11.

Even though I have covered city politics for more than nine years now, I do not consider myself any type of expert on Sweetwater politics, however I will give you my take on the results because I have a space to fill before I go on "staycation."
Some of my thoughts are not original, as I learned a lot from talking with others after the election and gained insight from what they thought.

It was no surprise to me or most anyone that Lowe won the mayor's race by a wide margin.
He is well known in town and ran a strong campaign for mayor four years ago.
I do think it is quiet revealing second-place finisher Jeff Darragh got nearly 600 votes.
Though Darragh has been here about 10 years, that's still an "outsider" the way we often think around here, but maybe that is changing some.

All candidates run on a "change" platform, however voters are often scared to pull the trigger when real change is proposed.
Darragh's ideas in some areas were radically different but he still got a lot of votes.
Commissioner-elect Julian Walton is well known in the community and campaigned hard, unseating incumbent James Matoy in effect.

I thought Walton would win but his very large vote total surprised me.
Incumbent Bill Stockton got more than 800 votes so the election was not a total anti-incumbency vote.

The biggest change coming from the election was of course the passage liquor by the drink.
I am telling this after the fact, but my guess was the referendum would win by 150 votes though even if it had lost I guess I would not have been shocked.
That's why I don't bet on the horses-I can't make up my mind.
Liquor by the drink won by nearly 200 votes.

That's a big swing from two years ago when the referendum lost by one vote.
The 2009 city election turnout was more than 300 voters higher than two years ago.
People took a real interest in this election though of course, we wish all 4,267 city voters had turned out.

The opportunity for real change, for better of for worse, could come two years from now when three City Commission seats are up for grabs.
The three incumbents for 2011 are Buster West, Tommy Haun and David Cleveland.
All three are good men and longtime public servants so I am not pushing them out the door or advocating that be done.

All three are probably in better health than I am, but West is in his 70s, and Haun and Cleveland are well in their 80s.
That's a lot of experience the city has benefited from.

But how long do they want to remain in office to take phone calls about potholes? I haven't asked them about it and that's of course up to them.
Sorry, Buster, I know you had most of the holes paved over last summer.
The city would be well served if those men chose to run again but what if they don't?
Will other leaders step up?

I used to wonder out loud where our future leaders would come from.
But in the most recent election, a lot of new names were on the ballot and I think that bodes well for the future no matter what the three incumbents decide.
These are challenging times and it will take people, young or older, with a lot of energy to help the city.

I'd like to take this time and space to thank outgoing Mayor Jim Stutts and City Commissioner James Matoy for their service.
Even in a small city of less than 7,000 people, elected officials give numerous hours to their often thankless jobs.

There is no doubt in my mind Stutts would have to rank among the most talented mayors anywhere.
His vast legal experience was invaluable to the city and I only wish commissioners had followed his guidance a little more at times.

Matoy helped oversee numerous improvements to city recreation areas and his experience as a builder came in handy on the Planning Commission.
I also want to wish the best to the new mayor and commissioner.

Lowe is a Sweetwater man through and through and I am sure he will try his best for the city.
He took the time during the election to learn as much about city issues as he could.
Walton is a highly educated man and seems to take matters into thoughtful deliberation.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101