Lay Elected Mayor; Lay Joins Field Of Incumbents On Town Council

Oneida, TN (2011-11-05) Jack E. Lay has won an unprecedented fifth, four-year term as Mayor of Oneida. Linda Lay, the wife of Oneida businessmen John C. Lay, has earned her first political seat, joining a field of incumbents in winning a seat on the Oneida City Council.

For the fifth consecutive time, Mayor Jack E. Lay won re-election to the top administrative job at the Town of Oneida on Saturday, outpolling his lone challenger, Harold Brooks, 732 to 205.

Saturday’s election was kind to the incumbents, as all seated members of the Oneida City Council returned to the board. Incumbent David Lowe outpolled all candidates in the race for Alderman, receiving a total of 528 votes. Lowe was followed closely by Alderman Sharon Miller, who tallied 522 ballots. Cecil Anderson finished a distant fourth, retaining his seat on the Board, earning a total of 455 votes. Linda Lay, who recently unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Plateau Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, easily took the vacant seat on the City Council, finishing third in the race with 509.

Oneida businessman Randy Cooper finished fifth in the race, earning a total of 397 votes. Oneida businessman Hillard Mattie ended up sixth with 322 votes, while current County Commissioner Ronnie (Ron) Blevins rounded out the voting with 301.

Of the town’s 2501 registered voters, just 980 (39%) took the time to cast their preference in Saturday’s election.