Gates to challenge Moore in Linden mayoral runoff

Incumbent Mitzi Gates will challenge Charles Moore for the Linden mayoral office during the Oct. 9 runoff after city administrator Cheryl Hall announced the results of the provisional ballots during Tuesday’s council meeting.

When the municipal election closed Tuesday, challenger Charles Moore had locked up a spot in the runoff with 336 votes. Incumbent Mitzi Gates carried 235 votes while challenger Joe Young held 229.

The provisional ballot results announced during the canvassing at Tuesday’s council meeting determined the second candidate in the runoff.

Hall announced at the beginning of the canvassing that 12 of the provisional ballots received would not count for varying reasons. Of the 10 ballots that Hall counted Tuesday, nine went to Moore and one went to Young.

“The same mindset that I’ve had since throwing my hat into the ring in 2008, that I love the people of Linden. I love living in this town and I have counted it a privilege to have been given the opportunity to serve the folks here,” Gates said of her thoughts over the last week. “That’s all in the world I’ve been thinking this last week. I’m really glad that we’ve had three willing, capable and concerned candidates. The citizens of Linden had a choice to make and those choices were made. The results were a lot closer between me and Mr. Young than maybe I would have wanted, not just because I didn’t want a close runoff, but because he is my colleague and my friend. I was just trusting God’s grace whatever the outcome would be.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever had to do provisionals like this,” Hall said, pointing to how tight the Linden election proved to be.

Final election count

Charles Moore – 345

Mitzi Gates – 235

Joe Young – 230