Editor's Note:
An earlier version of this story showed Todd Miller with 32.58% of the votes, making him one of the winners. The story was published before write-in votes were tallied. When those votes were counted, Libby Justice earned enough to edge candidate Miller. The tallies still reflect final, unofficial results. The Ashland County Board of Elections will meet Nov. 21 to certify the results.
HAYESVILLE — The Village of Hayesville elected Tucker Conrad and Libby Justice to serve on council, according to final, unofficial results from the Ashland County Board of Elections.
Tucker Conrad, 27, rose to the top of the three candidates with 40.42%, earning 97 of the 240 votes cast in the village.
Libby Justice, earned 35.42% of the votes, or 85 of the votes. Unofficial, final votes from the Ashland County Board of Elections shows candidate Todd Miller earned 24.17% of the votes, or 58 in total.
“The future’s a bright place,” Conrad said, moments after learning he had earned the most votes. He attributed the successful campaign to being a local guy.
“People are familiar with me — they’ve known me since I was a little kid,” he said.
He has lived in the village since he was 5 years old. He was appointed to council in August 2022 after Bob Vinsack resigned.
He has said he’d like to create a channel for council to stay in touch with the village’s residents. He said he’d also like to continue to make fiscally responsible decisions for Hayesville.
Justice, 57, was appointed to Hayesville council in September when Chuck Gardner resigned. She works as a hair stylist at her own salon, Hair Connection, in Ashland. She’s lived in the village for 35 years and her husband, Jim, serves as an Ashland County commissioner.
“I’m just thankful for the people that voted for me,” she said. “And I’m excited to get on council and do some great things. It’s a blessing.”
She has said she’d like to continue the village’s efforts to get its water treatment plant finished. The project began seven years ago and has been projected to cost $2.6 million. The village received a $500,000 grant from Ashland County’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act in 2021. The rest of the project, officials have said, is covered with a combination of state and federal grants.
Voters also elected Robin Beasley as mayor of the village. She ran unopposed.
Each candidate’s term commences Jan. 1, 2024.