Steve “Thunder” Tumlin rolled to victory in the Marietta mayoral race Tuesday while a candidate with major tax problems pulled an upset to win a City Council seat.
Tumlin won with an overwheling 80 percent of the vote over Bill Bolton III and Chris Neil. Tumlin, a former member of the state House and the Marietta School Board, takes the job Bill Dunaway held for two terms before deciding to step down.
Tumlin has said he got his nickname as an infant, when his older sister said his squalling sounded like thunder.
He said he wants to expedite redevelopment by encouraging home ownership and bringing quality businesses to Marietta.
In the Ward 3 council race, former council member Johnny Sinclair upset incumbent Holly Walquist. Only a few weeks ago, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed that Sinclair, a Realtor, owed more than $70,000 in state and federal taxes going back to 2003. He served on the council from 1998 to 2005.
Sinclair said his tax problems won him votes.
“Americans have a great capacity for understanding and forgiveness,” he said Tuesday night. “I had to go out and wear down the shoe leather and explain what I’ve been through. You’d be surprised by how many people have been through the same thing.”
Walquist said she was surprised.
"I know my opponent worked hard, but this was not the turnout I thought would happen," she said.
In Ward 5, incumbent Anthony Coleman defeated former council member James Dodd. Political newcomer Chris Johnson finished in third place.
Incumbent Van Pearlberg had a major win over Wes Godwin for the Ward 4 council seat.
The other four City Council seats were uncontested.
There were elections for three contested city school board seats. Logan Weber beat Robert Thanepohn in Ward 1. Stuart Fleming defeated Doug Martin in Ward 5. Tom Cheater defeated Michelle Cooper Kelly in Ward 6. The other four school board seats were uncontested.
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