Lynn Kennedy wins Sumter City Council Ward 4 seat

According to unofficial results, Rebecca Lynn Kennedy has secured the Sumter City Council Ward 4 seat by 11 votes after a close runoff election. In total, Kennedy obtained 238 votes or 51.18%, and her opponent Gene Weston obtained 227 or 48.82% of the votes.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Weston was ahead of Kennedy at the polls, but because none of the five Ward 4 candidates secured a majority of the votes to win outright, a runoff between the two front-runners – Kennedy and Weston – was necessary.

In that initial election, Weston secured 24.69%, or 584 votes, followed by Rebecca Lynn Kennedy, who got 22.37%, or 529 votes.

In the runoff, 465 Ward 4 residents voted.

The results will be made official Thursday, Nov. 21, after the election committee holds its provisional hearing at 10 a.m.

If the official votes retain Kennedy as the Ward 4 seat holder, she will be sworn in on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the Sumter Opera House at 6 p.m.