DAVID BALL
The Port Arthur News
PORT ARTHUR
May 10, 2008 11:31 pm
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Two incumbents lost their seats on the council and one longtime councilmember running in another district is facing a June run-off election.
District 7 had D. Kay Wise challenging Willie “Bae” Lewis, a process analyzer technician at Valero. Wise received 1,074 votes or 54.30 percent while Lewis received 736 votes or 37.21 percent.
Wise, a human resources/safety manager at GP Industrials Contractors said after the election she was overwhelmed with joy.
“I wasn’t surprised. I knew I was favored to win by God’s grace and blessings,” Wise said. “It was time. The people are tired and they want change. I had a large support base and they came out of nowhere. I couldn’t had own without the support of my family and my boss, Roosevelt Petry.”
District 2 incumbent Cal Jones was defeated by challenger Elizabeth “Liz” Segler.
She received 156 total votes or 50.32 percent of the vote compared to 133 total votes or 42.90 percent for Jones.
“I must had done something right,” Segler said. “I worked very, very hard and I’m very, very tired. I’m elated and thankful to my supporters. I’ve known Mr. Jones a number of years and there was no dissension. We both want what’s best for the city. We did everything we could do and sit back and let the people work it (vote in the election).”
Segler is a retired teacher/coach at Lincoln High School and Jones is a sales associate.
In the District 8 race, Kerry “Twin” Thomas earned 798 total votes and 40.34 percent while former District 3 councilmember Thomas Henderson received 675 of the total votes cast or 34.13 percent to force a run-off since neither had a majority of 50 percent of the total vote.
Thomas is employed by the Jefferson County Mosquito Control Department while Henderson is retired. Both candidates said they will have to hit the streets or contact those who didn’t vote for them before the June 20 run-off election.
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