By CHRIS MORRIS
Democrats hung on to control in Clarksville, as attempts by Republicans to gain a foothold on the Town Council failed during Tuesday’s election.
Democrats won two seats in a four-way race for two at-large council positions. Democratic newcomer Vicki Appleby garnered the most votes in the at-large race, winning about 35 percent of the total. She was followed by Democratic incumbent Greg Isgrigg, who took 32 percent of the vote.
Republicans Jodi Leonard and Keith Sellmer lost their bids in the at-large race, garnering only 19 percent and 14 percent respectively.
In the only other contested race in town, Democrat Gene Richert easily defeated Libertarian challenger Greg Hertzsch, winning almost 80 percent of the vote in that race.
Appleby will be the newest addition to the council and the first woman ever elected to the board. She defeated incumbent councilman Kelly Conn during the Democratic primary last May.
She was at the celebration at the 10th Street bingo parlor-turned-Democrat headquarters in Jeffersonville while results were being released Tuesday night, but could not be located for comment on her victory.
Isgrigg and fellow council members were there as well.
“I’m just glad it’s over,” said Isgrigg after results came in Tuesday night. “We worked pretty hard. When you got competition you always worry. It just makes you work harder.”
Isgrigg said with the wins, the council likely will continue to focus on some of its current priorities, such as building a graphical-information system and correcting ongoing stormwater drainage issues that have long plagued the town.
“I look forward to the next four years,” he said. “We got a lot of work to do.”
