Seth Johnson
Newberry opened its qualifying period on Monday for candidates to run for mayor and two city commissioner positions. But after qualifying closed at noon on Thursday, only the incumbents had filed.
Instead of an election in April, the three unopposed candidates—Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Commissioner Tim Marden and Commissioner Tony Mazon—will keep their seats.
“As of now, Commissioner Marden, Commissioner Mazon, and myself are the only candidates to qualify for office,” Marlowe said in a social media statement. “On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank the community for such a tremendous show of support. It is a pleasure to serve this City, and I never take the honor lightly!”
Last year, two of the three open commission seats were unopposed. And in Group 3, incumbent Commissioner Monty Farnsworth won by three votes.
In 2021, Mazon won his first term unopposed, while Marden narrowly won reelection by 60 votes against local real estate agent Joy Glanzer.
The current commission has set Newberry on a robust growth path, approving many residential and commercial projects.
“The city’s vision is coming to life,” Marlowe said in his State of the City address on Feb. 17.
Let’s hope that’s a sign that the people of Newberry are satisfied with this team and not that everybody has just given up hope.