John Buz Dotson won reelection on Tuesday to the town board.
The results are in, and Highlands will have one new town board member following the 2023 municipal election.
Three seats were contested on the board of commissioners and decided among five candidates. Incumbents Brian Stiehler and John ‘Buz’ Dotson each retained their post. Jeff Weller will take over the board seat vacated by Marc Hehn, who opted not to seek reelection.
“I am excited that the people of Highlands have decided to keep me on the board for another term,” Stiehler said. “I think we have done a lot of good work as a board over the past several years and I look forward to continuing to lead the town forward.”
Stiehler emerged as the leading vote getter in the election with 285 ballots cast in his favor. Weller finished second in the voting with 255 votes and Dotson finished third with 235 votes.
Challengers Rachel Wilson and Kay Craig finished with 173 votes and 144 votes respectively. There were six write-in votes.
“When the final results came in it was really humbling,” Weller said. “I am looking forward to spending the next two months meeting with the other board members and the mayor so that I can get right to work once I’m sworn in. I’ve been involved with Highlands town government in different capacities via the planning board and other committees, but I still have plenty to learn in terms of the inner workings of the board of commissioners.”
Weller will be sworn in at the board’s December meeting, but won’t begin presiding as a commissioner until January. He will relinquish his seat on the Highlands Planning Board, but will remain on the Macon County Parks and Recreation Commission, the Advancing Highlands Education Committee, and several other community boards.
“Having a strong connection with the county is important, so it will be nice to represent the town on the Rec Commission in an official capacity,” Weller said. “I’ve been the Highlands rep for double digit years, and this just adds a little validity to that.”
In nearby Franklin, mayor Jack Horton won a second term via an uncontested race. Incumbents Michael Lewis and Joe Collins retained their board seats and newcomer Robbie Tompa will take over the chair vacated by Adam Kimsey, who chose not to seek reelection.
Municipal elections are held in odd numbered years and only registered voters who live within the town limits are eligible to vote.