Shaheen is mayor-elect after
razor-thin victory over Chalk
9 months ago | 345 views | 0 
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Chuck Shaheen enters the City Council Chamber over which he will preside beginning in January.
With 5,664 votes cast, Shaheen’s winning margin was 190 — 2,927 to 2,737.
Overall, Chalk took four of six precincts by narrow margins. Shaheen had a 59-vote edge among 863 absentee ballots in addition to the recreation department win.
Amid back slapping, hugs, high-fives and the waving of campaign placards, Shaheen said the long campaign had been a roller coaster ride.
“Harvard should do a study on this campaign,” he said just seconds after the final vote count had been posted at City Hall. “But we stayed the course. We stayed consistent. We budgeted our money very well because we knew going in that there was going to be a run-off.”
He said he was looking forward to pulling people together over the next four years. “I particularly want to earn the respect of the people who voted for Mr. Chalk,” he noted.
In a post election interview over WNNG radio, Shaheen praised his campaign workers saying his victory had been a team effort. He also praised his family, including his mother, Barbara. “Nobody outworks my mother and my family,” he said.
The mayor-elect also had praise for his opponent. “Mr. Chalk ran a fine race and represented himself very well,” Shaheen said.
The support of Clifford Holmes was decisive, noted Shaheen. Holmes, a mayoral candidate who did not qualify for the run-off, took the recreation department precinct during the general election. Holmes announced he was voting for Shaheen last week. The recreation department precinct stretches narrowly north and south along the eastern boundary of the city, from Freedom Road in the north to Sandy Run Road and its tributaries in the south.
“There was no question that Dr. Holmes’ vote was key,” Shaheen said.
Chalk said he wished the mayor-elect well. “He has a big task ahead of him,” he stressed. “I hope every Chalk voter will get in there and do great things for Warner Robins.”
The Robins Air Force Base civil service worker said he had no regrets. “We did everything we could do,” Chalk emphasized. “We lost by 190 votes. It was a 9-inning game and it went extra innings. The runs were just not there.”
Out-going city councilman Terry Horton said he was surprised by the number of votes cast and the slender margin. “I only expected about 3,500 to 4,000 votes,” he said among the near deafening noise of City Hall. “I though Chuck Shaheen would get about 57 to 58 percent of the vote although I was delighted with the outcome.”
He attributed Chalk’s strong showing to support from the family of late Warner Robins Mayor Donald Walker. “That made the difference,” Horton said. “Without it, I believe the run-off would have been between Shaheen and Holmes.”
Dean Cowart, who lost his bid to return to city council during the general election, also credited Holmes’ support as key. “It appears that Mr. Holmes’ votes went over to Chuck Shaheen,” Cowart pointed out. “And that’s a good thing in my opinion.”
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Shaheen is mayor-elect after
razor-thin victory over Chalk
9 months ago | 345 views | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | |
Chuck Shaheen enters the City Council Chamber over which he will preside beginning in January.
With 5,664 votes cast, Shaheen’s winning margin was 190 — 2,927 to 2,737.
Overall, Chalk took four of six precincts by narrow margins. Shaheen had a 59-vote edge among 863 absentee ballots in addition to the recreation department win.
Amid back slapping, hugs, high-fives and the waving of campaign placards, Shaheen said the long campaign had been a roller coaster ride.
“Harvard should do a study on this campaign,” he said just seconds after the final vote count had been posted at City Hall. “But we stayed the course. We stayed consistent. We budgeted our money very well because we knew going in that there was going to be a run-off.”
He said he was looking forward to pulling people together over the next four years. “I particularly want to earn the respect of the people who voted for Mr. Chalk,” he noted.
In a post election interview over WNNG radio, Shaheen praised his campaign workers saying his victory had been a team effort. He also praised his family, including his mother, Barbara. “Nobody outworks my mother and my family,” he said.
The mayor-elect also had praise for his opponent. “Mr. Chalk ran a fine race and represented himself very well,” Shaheen said.
The support of Clifford Holmes was decisive, noted Shaheen. Holmes, a mayoral candidate who did not qualify for the run-off, took the recreation department precinct during the general election. Holmes announced he was voting for Shaheen last week. The recreation department precinct stretches narrowly north and south along the eastern boundary of the city, from Freedom Road in the north to Sandy Run Road and its tributaries in the south.
“There was no question that Dr. Holmes’ vote was key,” Shaheen said.
Chalk said he wished the mayor-elect well. “He has a big task ahead of him,” he stressed. “I hope every Chalk voter will get in there and do great things for Warner Robins.”
The Robins Air Force Base civil service worker said he had no regrets. “We did everything we could do,” Chalk emphasized. “We lost by 190 votes. It was a 9-inning game and it went extra innings. The runs were just not there.”
Out-going city councilman Terry Horton said he was surprised by the number of votes cast and the slender margin. “I only expected about 3,500 to 4,000 votes,” he said among the near deafening noise of City Hall. “I though Chuck Shaheen would get about 57 to 58 percent of the vote although I was delighted with the outcome.”
He attributed Chalk’s strong showing to support from the family of late Warner Robins Mayor Donald Walker. “That made the difference,” Horton said. “Without it, I believe the run-off would have been between Shaheen and Holmes.”
Dean Cowart, who lost his bid to return to city council during the general election, also credited Holmes’ support as key. “It appears that Mr. Holmes’ votes went over to Chuck Shaheen,” Cowart pointed out. “And that’s a good thing in my opinion.”