Voters head out to the polls on Tuesday for city elections in Brunswick

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — The trial in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery is happening at the same time as the city elections in Brunswick.

There’s a mayoral race with 8 candidates and as well as a city council race on the ballot for Tuesday.

Ann M. Senior, Cosby Johnson, Helen Rachel Ladson, Ivan D. Figueroa, John D. Perry II, Robbie Tucker, Travis Slim Riddle and Vincent T. Williams are all running for mayor.

Only one will replace incumbent Cornell Harvey who cannot run for reelection.

Gary B Cook, Kendra Leola Rolle, and Earnest Culbreath are all candidates for the North Ward city commission a position currently held by Vincent Williams.

South Ward commissioner Felicia Harris is unopposed in her bid for re-election so she will keep her seat.

Action News Jax Alicia Tarancon spent Tuesday morning in Brunswick talking to voters heading to the polls.

William Lewis cast his ballot early that morning.

For him, a new mayor and city council members are a chance to improve the city of Brunswick.

“A lot of the abandoned houses I think should be either fixed up or removed from the property to make our city more beautiful,” Lewis said.

He’s hoping if his candidates win the election, they’ll help create more affordable housing in Brunswick.

A lot of voters in Brunswick told Action News Jax they’re looking for a change and they want to vote for the candidates that will help revitalize their city.

We caught up with voters casting their ballots at the Bethel Evangel Community Church just steps away from the Glynn County Courthouse where the high-profile Ahmaud Arbery murder trial is ongoing.

Lewis told me despite the national attention of the trial he doesn’t think it will impact the city elections.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think so – me personally I don’t think so,” Lewis said.

Audrey Gibbons was holding up signs campaigning just a few blocks down the street from the polling place.

She told me to make sure to vote early.

“I cast my vote on the first day because my granddaughter got to vote for the first time, and we made sure that we voted together,” Gibbons said.

Regardless of who you’re voting for people like Gibbons are just hoping people get out and exercise their right to vote before the polls close.

“We cannot expect change if we don’t voice our opinion,” Gibbons said.

“I think you should come out to make our city a better place to live,” Lewis said.

Early voting ended on Friday, so you’ll have to come out to the polls and vote in person if you haven’t already.

Polls close at 7:00 p.m. You can check election results at https://www.glynncounty.org/78/Board-of-Elections.

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