Gainor wins Cairo mayor’s race

Published 9:06 pm Tuesday, November 7, 2017

CAIRO — Two new faces will be on the Cairo City Council in January. 

Booker Gainor and DeMario Byrden were elected following Tuesday’s general election in Cairo. 

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Gainor beat Hansell Bearden with 738 votes for mayor. Bearden garnered 549 votes. 

Byrden unseated long-time District 2 council member Ernest Cloud Jr. with 151 votes to Cloud’s 133 votes. 

“It feels amazing,” Gainor said. “I don’t even know how to describe it.”

Gainor, who resigned from his job to seek election, said he felt doing so was the “best decision” he made in his life. 

Gainor noted he is ready to work with local officials, and stressed the importance of working with everyone on getting “the ball rolling” on revitalizing Cairo. 

“Cairo won, not Booker,” he said. “It’s a victory for the city, not me.” 

Following the win, Byrden said he was excited over the feat.  

“It was a rough road,” he said. 

Following the win, the groundwork will be started, Byrden said. 

“The job starts now,” Byrden said. 

In the special election for Grady County’s District 1 seat, a three-way runoff is possible. 

Richard Jordan garnered 179 votes and candidates June Duke Knight and Earle Jeter got 131 votes each. One provisional vote remains to determine if the tie will be broken. 

If the tie is not broken, the run-off is scheduled for Dec. 5.  

In the Whigham City Council election, which was for five at-large seats, David Gainous received the most votes at 52. Incumbents Jim Sellers and Joel Singletary were reelected, each garnering 46 votes. Dusty Brown and Ashley Lee King also were elected with 43 votes each.  

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.