LAWTON — Lawton Mayor Stan Booker’s bid for a second term proved successful Tuesday.
Booker led the three-candidate field with 2,600 votes, or 63% of the total, according to unofficial election results. Challenger Sherene Williams finished second with 1,320 votes, which was 31% of the total.
Another challenger, Palmer Moore Jr.., came in last with 237 votes, or 5% of the total.
Booker was not available for comment before press time Wednesday.
The mayor’s race wasn’t the only issue on the ballot in Lawton. Voters also narrowed the field of candidates for the Ward 2 seat on the Lawton City Council from five people to two.
In the Ward 2 race, Kelly Harris captured the most votes with 213, or 32.37% of the total. Mark Malone was in second place with 182 votes, or 27.66%. Justin Hackney rounded out the top three with 147 votes, or 22.34%.
Shelli Fox finished fourth with 65 votes – 9.88% of the total – and Richard Strickland came in last with 51 votes, or 7.55%.
Under Oklahoma law, candidates must receive a simple majority of the vote – 50% plus one – to win. None of the candidates in the Ward 2 race reached that threshold, but Harris and Malone had the most votes of the five.
Harris and Malone will square off again in the Nov. 9 special election. The winner of that race will claim the Ward 2 seat on the council.
Malone said he appreciated voters’ support in the primary election, and he hoped they would continue to back him again in November.
“I would ask for the support of the other candidates as we move forward and work as one team and see if we can make some changes,” he said.
Malone said as he prepares for the November election, he will continue talking with voters about their concerns.
Harris said his strategy for the upcoming election will be the same as the one he used leading up to Tuesday's vote.
“I didn’t get to knock on every single door of every single registered voter, and I want to get that done,” he said. “Everybody has a story, and I want to hear as many of them as possible and see what they would like to see their councilman do.”
Harris said he will also begin studying the city charter and the issues facing City Hall so if he is elected, he will be ready to take office in January.
Ward 1 Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins was up for re-election this year, but she did not draw an opponent for the primary election. As a result, Hankins will retain her seat on the council.