Election 2020: Final results for District 4 seat on Columbus Council

Toyia Tucker is headed to victory over challenger Elaine Gillisipie for the District 4 seat on Columbus Council starting January 2020, and will fill the seat through the end of the year after also winning the special election.

As of 4:06 p.m. Wednesday, all votes were counted and Tucker had pulled ahead in Tuesday’s nonpartisan election with 3,363 votes, or 67%, compared to Gillispie’s 1,640 votes (33%).

All results are unofficial until they are certified by the five-member county elections board.

The candidates were running for the seat vacated by longtime councilwoman Evelyn Turner Pugh, who retired due to health issues last fall. Valerie A. Thompson was appointed by council to fill the seat until a special election could be held to finish out the remainder of the term, which ends in December. She told council when she was appointed she would not be seeking re-election.

The special election was included on Tuesday’s ballot and as of 4:-6 p.m., Tucker won with 2,280 votes (45%) followed by incumbent Valerie Thompson with 1,877 (37%) and Elaine Gillispie with 940 (18%).

Tucker is a retired United States Air Force Veteran. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and most recently worked as an information technology/telecommunications specialist and clinical applications technician at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning.

Gillispie retired as a Congressional Field Representative for Congressman Sanford D. Bishop after 18 years. A United States Army Veteran, she is also a former Columbus firefighter.

This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 3:23 PM.