Dateline: May 18, 2006

Howardwick elects fallen fireman as mayor

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Howardwick voters on Saturday chose as their new mayor a man who lost his life in service to that community.

The late volunteer fireman James McMorries was elected 94-34 over his opponent Paul Bartlett.

McMorries died April 9, 2006, from injuries he sustained while helping battle the I-40 wildfire on March 12. The vehicle he was driving overturned, sending him and two other volunteer firemen to the hospital.

McMorries had filed to run for mayor but passed away after the deadline to remove a name from the ballot.

The Howardwick Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night to canvass the election and declare a vacancy in the mayor’s office. They will meet next Tuesday to appoint someone to serve McMorries’ term.

Howardwick voters also had a full slate of candidates to choose from for the board of aldermen. Incumbent Aldermen Lee Ann Cook and Sam Grider were reelected and will be joined on the board by H.L. Buster Baird. Cook received 95 votes, Baird had 94, and Grider had 93.

Other candidates for aldermen were Susie Langford with 31 votes, Stanley Couch with 42, and Milton Brown with 34.

A total of 132 people cast ballots in this year’s election in Howardwick.