Runoff candidates for Lanett mayoral race reflect on election results

BY JOHN BRICE

THE LAFAYETTE SUN

LANETT — Out of the eight candidates who ran for mayor in Lanett during the municipal election, Randall Aikens and incumbent mayor Jamie Heard each received enough votes to proceed to a runoff election, which will be held on Sept. 23. Once the polls had closed at James A. Hardy Gym and the votes had been counted, City Clerk Deborah Gilbert stood before the crowd that had gathered outside the entrance and announced the results. Aikens had received 470 votes compared to Heard receiving 431 votes.

THE RUNOFF

Aikens shared his perspective on how the race had progressed up until that point.

“With Jamie and I, we were just talking, it has been a clean race and we are going to keep it clean,” Aikens said. “Valerie Gray made this comment one night that we are not running against each other, we are running for the seat. That is the way it is going to be. Everybody knows what our platform is now. We have just got to win some hearts over and see who gets the most. That is all I know. It couldn’t have been much closer.”

Aikens also said he is thankful for those who have supported him throughout the election, and that he looks forward to connecting with more voters.

“I just appreciate everybody that came up and supported me,” he said. “The biggest thing that I got when we first started campaigning was ‘We saw your sign, we saw your name but we didn’t know who you were.’ I didn’t put my picture on my signs because my mugshot did not need to be out there. I think through social media that people know who I am now. We have got four more weeks of it, just getting the word out. I am like Jamie — I don’t know what else we can do other than just keep it clean and talk to people.”

Mayor Heard expressed similar sentiments.

“I agree with Randall,” he said. “The people spoke tonight. They voted on us so we are in a runoff. We look forward to four more weeks of it. I don’t know how much more we can do. We just got to win those who didn’t vote for us the first time. Try to win them over a second time.”

Heard said he is grateful for all of those who have helped throughout the campaign, and looks forward to seeing continued support in the runoff.

“I would just like to thank my family, campaign manager Hershel Allen and my campaign team,” Heard said. “We worked hard, we did what we had to do. As Randall said, everybody knows us. We have just got to win those over, and we are looking forward to the next four weeks. I just appreciate all the support I had.”