CENTRE — Mayors in two of Cherokee County's three largest municipalities easily won reelection in last week's municipal voting. In the third, the sitting mayor faces a runoff after coming in second to one of her four challengers.

Centre Mayor Tony Wilkie gathered 61 percent of the vote against challenger Jay Howell. In Leesburg, Mayor Edward Mackey was reelected with a slightly smaller majority. Mackey received 179 of 312 votes (57 percent) against challengers Dianne Tillery (68 votes) and Tony Chandler (65 votes). In Cedar Bluff, Mayor Ethel Sprouse faces an Oct. 9 runoff against former Mayor Martha Baker, who received 124 votes to Sprouse's 111. Three other challengers combined for an additional 154 votes.

Sitting officials in Sand Rock and Gaylesville faced no opposition in Tuesday's election.

Wilkie, who will begin his second term in November, said he was “excited and overwhelmed” by the outcome.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the voters for allowing me to serve another term as mayor,” Wilkie said Friday. “I will continue to be hard-working, with fairness and an open-door policy.”

Wilkie had 539 votes to Howell's 347.

There will be a pair of new faces on the Centre City Council come November. Marc Johnson (816 total votes) and Derrick Wheeler (676) will join current council members Frankie Kelly (830), Phillip Roberts (789), Bess Yarbrough (653), Harry Moon (464) and Glenn Chandler (383).

Because of the city's at-large election procedure, voters in Centre are allowed to cast up to seven votes for each candidate. Others receiving votes were Sheila Barrett (343), Ronnie Strawbridge (334), Cricket Swafford (332), Agnes Wright (277) and Jean Gossett (128).

Mackey, who will be serving his fourth term in Leesburg, said he was “pleased” with the outcome.

“I appreciate the confidence the people of Leesburg have shown in me,” Mackey said. “Now let’s all come together and work on a great future.”

Frankie Brewster and Tim Ransum will face off on Oct. 9 for the Place 1 spot on the Leesburg Town Council. Others elected outright on Aug. 28 were Joe Sonaty (Place 2), Brandy Pierce (Place 3), Wayne Byram (Place 4, no opposition) and Brandon Betterton (Place 5).

In Cedar Bluff Town Council races, Billie Burkhalter (72) defeated incumbent Evan Smith (35) and Jimmy Wallace (9) for the Dist. 1 seat. In Dist. 2, Tammy Crane was unopposed. Jerry Sprayberry (44) outpolled Nathan Thacker (38) for Dist. 3. In Dist. 4, incumbent Norman Burton (47) held off a challenge from former Mayor Paul W. McWhorter, III (40). Leatha Harp was unopposed in Dist. 5.