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Full slate of candidates qualify for Nov. 7 municipal elections
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By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

All three city halls in Guyton, Rincon, and Springfield buzzed with activity last week as local citizens filed paperwork to qualify to run for public office.

Rincon and Springfield each have three at-large city council seats available.

Guyton has two council posts and the mayor’s seat in the running

All three municipalities and unincorporated Effingham County have the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) referendum on their ballots. For residents who live outside the jurisdictions of the three cities, their ballot has only the TSPLOST question requiring a “yes” or “no” vote.

Early voting for this election starts Oct. 16 at the County Elections office on Hwy. 119. Election Day is Nov. 7.

Rincon City Council

Three at-large seats, currently held by councilmembers Michelle Taylor, Patrick Kirkland, and Reese Browher are on the ballot. All three incumbents have filed for re-election. They are being challenged by Mona Underwood and Brandy Riley. The top three candidates will win the at-large seats for a four-year term starting in January 2024.

 

Springfield City Council

Likewise in Springfield, three at-large seats, currently held by Justin Cribbs, Steve Shealy, and Gary Weitman are on the ballot. One challenger, Leah Weston Perkins, has also qualified.

Guyton City Council and Mayor

The Nov. 7 ballot for the City of Guyton features familiar faces running for the mayoral seat and two council posts.

Mayor Russ Deen is being challenged by Andrew Harville and Michael Garvin.

Garvin and Deen last contested for the mayor’s post in 2019. Garvin previously served as mayor in the early 2000s.

According to his Facebook page, Harville is a local photographer.

Garvin is the current CEO and owner of Smalls Funeral Home, which has been in Guyton since the late 1940s. According to its website, it is one of the first Black-owned businesses in Effingham County.

Deen has owned and operated the Guyton Pet Lodge for the past 19 years.

Two council posts, currently held by Hursula Pelote and Marshall Reiser, are on the ballot. Jeremiah Chancey has qualified to run against Reiser; and Theodore Hamby has qualified to run against Pelote. Hamby was appointed to a seat on the Guyton Planning and Zoning Board in June. He previously tried to run for city council in 2021, but was disqualified for not meeting the 12-month residency requirement.