Municipal elections: Cox elected Richmond Hill's next mayor

Meanwhile: county-wide votes on FLOST and HB 476 pass with ease.

Kristi Cox, current Mayor Pro-Tem, has been elected as Richmond Hill's newest mayor on Tuesday evening.

With 1,817 votes, Cox bested her opponent, Belgicia Howell-Cowart, by over double her tally (786 votes).

"Thank you to everyone who came alongside me during this mayoral campaign," Cox said in a statement. "I am truly humbled by your support and deeply appreciate your confidence in me as we work to move our city forward."

Howell-Cowart, a political newcomer in Richmond Hill, conceded to Cox on Election Night:

"First and foremost, I want to congratulate Kristi Cox on her victory...I truly wish her wisdom, strength and success as she leads Richmond Hill into the future. May she represent us with a professional, God-fearing presence in all she does. When one of us succeeds in making this city stronger, we all succeed," Howell-Cowart said.

Mayor-elect Cox has served as a councilmember and mayor pro-tem in the City of Richmond Hill for over six years. She also serves on three advisory boards for the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and is on the Development Authority of Bryan County. Read more about Cox in her Q+A with the Bryan County News here.

Cox is set to become Richmond Hill's first female mayor in the town's recent history.

City Council

For City Council Post 1, Cindy Hatala won with 1,416 votes; Vee Singleton received 1,132 votes.

City Council Post 2 will move to a runoff between Kevin Bowes (777 votes) and Buck Holly (616 votes). Read more about both candidates on bryancountynews.com.

FLOST and Homestead Exemption

Unlike in recent years, both special election items on this year's ballot were passed with ease.

The Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) was passed by voters in Bryan County (4,521 votes in favor). The sales tax aims to provide property tax relief for the citizens of the county, City of Pembroke, and the City of Richmond Hill.

And the Homestead Exemption Referendum (HB 476) was passed by voters in Bryan County (6,037 votes in favor). The referendum sought consensus from county voters in order to "provide homestead exemption from the Bryan County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value".

Turnout

Turnout for this year's election reached 21.95% of registered voters in the county. (7,279 voters).