Charlotte Moses was elected Tuesday to serve as Port Arthur’s new Position 7 City Council member in a race where less than 5 percent of the city’s 28,640 registered voters went to the polls.

She will replace Derrick Freeman, who announced earlier this year he planned to run for mayor.

Moses, a Port Arthur businesswoman, ran against businessman Reginald Trainer in the special runoff election.

Moses won the election with 843 votes, or 60.95 percent, compared to 540 or 39.05 percent for Trainer.

“I am thankful to God that I made it through what was a tough campaign,” she said. “Port Arthur did not need a new sheriff, the city needed someone to serve the citizens of Port to the best of their ability and give back, and that is what I vow to do.”

Moses said throughout her campaign she strived to keep the focus on serving the citizens of Port Arthur.

“I never got personal, just wanted it to be about serving the citizens of Port Arthur,” she said.

Throughout her campaign Moses said if the citizens elected her, she would do whatever she could to make the City Council a more unified board.

“I want to come in and make sure we are all on the same page and work together for the unification of Port Arthur,” she said. “I want to thank those who voted for me, and all those who volunteered to help with my campaign. I also want to thank the police and fire associations and all the people of Unite Port Arthur.”

Moses, 52, is owner of Global Drug and Alcohol, a company that performs drug testing for various businesses.

She is executive pastor of Christian Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Port Arthur, and served on the city’s Economic Development Board until she resigned after filing for the Council seat.

Moses has said her experience, as a former city of Port Arthur employee will bring a unique perspective to the Council. She has worked in the city’s human resources department from 1988 to 2006.

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

Twitter: skooncePANews