Smith, Bourseois to face off in November for seat
Smith, left, and Bourseois shake hands after learning results Tuesday night
Century voters will have to return to the polls Nov. 6 to select the person to fill Gary Riley's seat on the Century Town Council with James Smith and Mary Hudson Bourseois set to face each other in a runoff following Tuesday's municipal election.
Unofficial returns showed Smith with 160 votes to Bourseosis' 146. John Brian Johnston finished third with 19 votes. It takes 50 percent plus one vote to win an election without a runoff.
"I feel fine," Smith said after the vote totals were posted. "Obviously I was hopeful it would be different but I was prepared to go a long way to help the citizens of Century. I'm whole heartedly invested in the community."
Bourseosis said she was proud of the turnout and wanted to thank her supporters.
"We worked hard and I'm proud of the big turnout," she said. "I think it's so important to get the right person on the council. We'll continue to work hard to make sure that happens."
Riley, who has served on the town council for more than 20 years, announced earlier that he would not seek re-election.
When voters return to the polls in November, they will also be selecting the council person for Seat 3 as well. Incumbent Councilman Ben Boutwell is being challenged by Onell Dubose.
