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The 2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election was held on August 28, 2018, to elect members to the city council and mayoral positions.^[1]

Electoral process

Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Auburn for at least 90 days, be a U.S. Citizen for at least one day, and be registered to vote.^[1] If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, then a runoff election is scheduled.

Mayoral election

Incumbent mayor Bill Ham announced that he would not be running for re-election on 29 May 2018. Bill Ham had served as mayor of Auburn since 1998.^[2]

Candidates

Endorsements

Ron Anders Jr.

Mayor

Bill Ham Jr., (1998–2018); outgoing mayor of Auburn, Alabama.^[3]

Ron Anders Jr.

Former councilman Ron Anders Jr. announced his bid for mayor after endorsement from incumbent Bill Ham. He focused most on public safety and education, promising to provide safety to the community while giving them what they want.^[3]

Brittany Cannon Dement

Brittany Cannon Dement was the only woman who ran for mayor. She focused her campaign on looking at Auburn's future over the next ten to fifteen years. Additionally, another goal of hers was to make the government more transparent for the average citizen, including open mayoral forums.^[4]

David Hill

David Hill focused on how to better plan the city. One goal of his was to better educate the population on zoning laws and how they work, so that they will be able to offer their own input into the plans.^[5]

Lindburgh Jackson

Lindburgh Jackson ran to improve the treatment of the northwest area of Auburn, and focus on diversity issues in the community.^[6]

Jordan Langdon

Auburn University student Jordan Langdon filed paperwork to run for mayor on 24 July 2018. He ran on a platform to try to give younger people a chance.^[7]

Richard Speake

Richard Speake ran on a platform of the environment, joking about being the "Green" candidate in the race. One of his main focuses was banning styrofoam in the city.^[8] He was arrested twice following the election, for public intoxication and criminal trespassing.^[9]

Debates and forums

2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral debates
No.	Date	Host	Link	Participants
P Participant A Absent
P Participant A Absent				Anders Jr.	Dement	Hill	Jackson	Langdon	Speake
1^[10]	Aug 23, 2018	Auburn Chamber of Commerce	YouTube^[11]	P	P	P	P	A	P

First round

Six candidates were on the ballot for the first round of voting. No candidate received a majority of the votes, so the top two candidates by popular vote qualified for the final round of voting.^[12]

2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Ron Anders Jr.	3,668	42.6%
David B. Hill	2,500	29.0%
Brittany Cannon Dement	2,179	25.3%
Lindburgh B. Jackson	200	2.3%
Richard E. Speake	52	0.6%
Jordan Langdon	21	0.2%
Total votes	8,620	100.0%

Runoff

The top two candidates from the first round advanced, consisting of former councilman Ron Anders Jr, alongside David Hill.^[13] The election was scheduled for 9 October 2018.^[14]

2018 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election runoff^[14]
Candidate	Votes	%
Ron Anders Jr.	4,538	54.2%
David B. Hill	3,831	45.8%
Total votes	8,369	100.0%

City council elections

Three of the eight incumbents chose to run for re-election.^[15]

Ward 1

Connie Fitch Taylor won the election with 69% of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 1^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Connie Fitch Taylor	329	69.1%
Verlinda J. White	147	30.9%
Total votes	476	100.0%

Ward 2

As no candidate received a majority of the vote, Kelley Griswold and Todd Scholl advanced to the runoff election on 9 October 2018.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 2^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Kelley Griswold	692	38.2%
Todd D. Scholl	418	23.1%
Anthony Brock	333	18.4%
Phil Chansler	174	9.6%
Hal Walker	156	8.6%
Stephen "Kyle" Mosely	37	2.0%
Total votes	1,810	100.0%

Runoff

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 2 runoff^[14]
Candidate	Votes	%
Kelley Griswold	1,093	63.7%
Todd D. Scholl	623	36.3%
Total votes	1,716	100.0%

Ward 3

As the only candidate, Beth Witten was elected to the city council unopposed.^[16]

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 3
Candidate		Votes	%
Beth Witten		Unnopposed	100%

Ward 4

No candidate received a majority of the vote, so the top two candidates, Brett Smith and Jim Ryan, advanced to a runoff.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 4^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Brett Smith	355	49.2%
Jim Ryan	241	33.4%
Barry Davis	125	17.3%
Total votes	721	100.0%

Runoff

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 4 runoff^[14]
Candidate	Votes	%
Brett Smith	424	63.8%
Jim Ryan	241	36.2%
Total votes	665	100.0%

Ward 5

No candidate won a majority of the votes, so Steven Dixon and Walter Northcutt advanced to the runoff.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 5^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Steven Dixon	651	36.5%
Walter M. Northcutt	619	34.7%
Brian P. O'Neil	512	28.7%
Total votes	1,782	100.0%

Runoff

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 5 runoff^[14]
Candidate	Votes	%
Steven Dixon	1,140	59.3%
Walter M. Northcutt	782	40.7%
Total votes	1,922	100.0%

Ward 6

Sarah Brown and Bob Parsons moved to a runoff due to neither candidate receiving a majority of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 6^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Sarah Brown	378	43.9%
Bob Parsons	306	35.5%
Brad Donnelly	178	20.6%
Total votes	862	100.0%

Runoff

Bob Parsons won the runoff in the closest election of the day.

Endorsements

Bob Parsons

Candidate

Brad Donnelly; Eliminated in first round.^[17]

Results

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 6 runoff^[14]
Candidate	Votes	%
Bob Parsons	438	50.8%
Sarah Brown	425	49.2%
Total votes	863	100.0%

Ward 7

Jay Hovey won the election with 54% of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 7^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Jay Hovey	711	54.3%
Laura Mirarchi	254	19.4%
Jay Conner	178	13.6%
Andrew Puent	104	7.9%
Amy C. Crew	63	4.8%
Total votes	1,310	100.0%

Ward 8

Tommy Dawson won the election with 52% of the vote.

2018 Auburn, Alabama municipal election –
Ward 8^[12]
Candidate	Votes	%
Tommy Dawson	419	52.4%
Marlene Bowman	380	47.6%
Total votes	799	100.0%

Election summary

Position	Before election^[18]	After election
Mayor	Bill Ham Jr.	Ron Anders Jr.
Ward 1	Verlinda White	Connie Fitch-Taylor
Ward 2	Ron Anders Jr.	Kelley Griswold
Ward 3	Beth Witten	Beth Witten
Ward 4	Brent Beard	Brett Smith
Ward 5	Lynda Tremaine	Steven Dixon
Ward 6	Dick Phelan	Bob Parsons
Ward 7	Gene Dulaney	Jay Hovey
Ward 8	Tommy Dawson	Tommy Dawson

References

^ ^a ^b "Here's what you need to know to qualify for Auburn's 2018 Municipal Election". WTVM News Leader 9. June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ "After 20 years, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham will not seek re-election". Alabama Today. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Ron Anders, with endorsement from Bill Ham, launches mayoral campaign". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Only woman of six mayoral candidates: meet Brittany Cannon Dement". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "After working in fast-growing communities around the country, David Hill wants to be Auburn's next mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "Meet Northwest Auburn advocate Lindburgh Jackson vying for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (July 24, 2018). "Auburn sophomore announces candidacy for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 24, 2018). "Environmental advocate Richard Speake seeks mayoral seat". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Jones, Alex (October 12, 2018). "Former Auburn mayoral candidate arrested for the second time in a month". WSFA 12. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 23, 2018). "Auburn Mayoral Candidates discuss City relationships, downtown Auburn at candidate forum Wednesday". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
^ "Auburn Mayoral Debate". YouTube. Eagle Eye TV. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Regular Municipal Election". City of Auburn. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Brownlee, Chip (August 29, 2018). "Ron Anders, David Hill in runoff for Auburn mayor". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Runoff Election". City of Auburn. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Brownlee, Chip; Hurley, Elizabeth (August 28, 2018). "A voter's guide to Tuesday's City Council elections". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ Hurley, Elizabeth (August 26, 2018). "Meet the Ward 3 City Council candidate". The Auburn Plainsman. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
^ "Elect Brad Donnelly". Facebook. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
^ "What you need to know about the 2018 Municipal Election" (PDF). City of Auburn. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2024.