Voters in Lexington have elevated councilman Tom Hughes to the position of mayor.

The second ward councilman and former Wentworth Military Academy coach picked up 717 votes to fill the remaining 17 months of the term, succeeding David Goodloe. Mayor pro tem John Harden came in second with 650 votes, while Paul Young had 133 votes. Write-in candidates including declared candidate Dale Doak received 347 votes.

Waverly voters resoundingly agreed to join the Carroll County Ambulance District, with 340 votes in support and 78 opposed. Carroll County voters welcomed Waverly with a comfortable margin, 2941-1286. Waverly residents will see a one-half cent sales tax increase, as well as an additional property tax of 30 cents per one hundred dollars per assessed valuation as part of the district.

Solidarity with Republican candidates in Pettis County resulted in Brandy Arnett unseating incumbent Charli Ackerman as public administrator. Arnett won the race with 11,597 votes to Ackerman’s 6724, bringing Ackerman’s time in office to an end after 20 years.

Chariton County also unseated their incumbent public administrator, with Democrat Regina Emmerich losing by 65 votes. Republican Brenda Bennett will take over the office after receiving 2008 votes to Emmerich’s 1943. Also in Chariton County, Erick Billups fended off a challenge from write-in candidate Victoria Fogarty for another term as sheriff. Billups picked up 3006 votes, while write-in candidates earned 646. Terry Milford won re-election as Chariton County’s Western District Commissioner, defeating Democratic challenger Dan Price by a 1390-609 margin.