GUN BARREL CITY -- Voters rejected the pro-morality platform of incumbent Mayor Dennis Wood and two new City Council candidates on May 12,opting instead for the pro-business message of former three-term Mayor Paul Eaton and two incumbent council members.
Voters also approved a proposition to allocate .025 percent of the local sales tax to fund road maintenance.
Eaton won the election for mayor over the one-term Wood in a 336 to 203 vote.
In Council, Place 2 East, incumbent Melvyn D. Hayes won over newcomer Allen E. Andis in a close race by 65 to 57 votes.
In Council, Place 4 West, incumbent Dennis Baade avoided a runoff by winning the race with 223 votes over newcomers Sandra Ward with 133 and Jim Braswell with 51.
Andis and Ward had aligned themselves with Wood in combined advertising campaigns that had warned, "This election is a battle for the heart and soul of Gun Barrel City."
Wood had angered many voters last year by unsuccessfully attempting to prevent Gun Barrel City from allowing restaurants to serve alcoholic beverages on weekends until 2 a.m. He also vowed to target gaming machines at a local bingo hall.
There were 529 votes cast with 194 in early voting and 335 on election day.