Cobb City Council Runoffs: Blackburn Wins In Smyrna

SMYRNA, GA — Voters chose candidates in Tuesday's runoff elections to fill city council seats in three cities in Cobb County. In Smyrna, Maryline Blackburn defeated Travis Lindley for the council's Ward 3 seat, according to media reports. Blackburn, a nonprofit executive and community activist, took 511 votes while Lindley, a local businessman, won 439, the Cobb County Courier reported.

Blackburn is executive director of Divas With A Cause, a local philanthropic group, according to her campaign website. She and Lindley were the top finishers among five candidates in the Nov. 7 City Council election.

Georgia law requires a runoff when no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in a general election.

The election was triggered when Teri Anulewicz, a longtime council member, resigned from the Ward 3 seat to run for a seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, the Cobb County Courier reported. Anulewicz, a Democrat, won the House District 42 seat without opposition.

In other city council races, according to figures compiled by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

• In Marietta, Cheryl Richardson defeated Jay Davis for the Ward 1 seat.
• In Austell, Martin Lamar defeated Ikaika Anderson for the Ward 1 seat.

The results must be certified by the Cobb County Board of Elections. For more information on Atlanta metro races, click here.

Image: Shutterstock