Owens elected as Vernon mayor

VERNON – Gary Owens won the Vernon mayoral seat by 23 votes in Tuesday’s election. The win marks a return for Owens, who has previously served many years with the Vernon City Council, including in the role of mayor.

Owens and Marlene Hintz each qualified for the mayoral seat to fill the position vacated last year by Candice Hodges.

Only 49 of Vernon’s 506 registered voters cast ballots in the election for a turnout of just under 9.7 percent.

Owens received 36 of those 49 votes with Hintz receiving 13. Two other council seats were each be filled with no opposition by incumbent Joey Brock and Mary Porteus.

Owens, Brock, and Porteus are expected to be sworn in when the council meets at 5:30 p.m., Monday, May 2.