Municipal elections in Hale County brought decisive outcomes in some towns and runoffs in others, with voters in Greensboro and Moundville set to return to the polls next month.
In Greensboro, longtime political figure Ralph A. Howard won the four-way race for mayor with 382 votes. Quincy Patrick finished second with 82 votes, followed by Melvin Lightning with 53 and Darryl K. Agnew with 14. Howard is no stranger to Hale County politics, having represented District 72 in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2005 until 2022.
Moundville
Moundville voters faced only one contested race, in District 5 for a seat on the town council. That contest ended without a majority winner and will also be decided in the September runoff between top votegetters Susie Patrick with 24 votes and Gwendolyn Tinker with 21. The third candidate in that race, Timothy Dillard, polled eight votes. Turnout in Moundville was low compared to Greensboro.
Newbern
Newbern’s incumbent mayor defended his seat against a challenge from a local business leader, and one race for town council was decided. Patrick Braxton won the mayor’s race with 66 votes to Laird Cole’s 26. In the contest for Council Seat 1, Patricia A. Jackson received 64 votes to Voncile Brown Thomas’ 27, with one undervote recorded.
The town clerk confirmed that the Watchman’s earlier report of candidates was inaccurate. The correct ballot included Braxton and Cole for mayor and Jackson and Thomas for Council Seat 1. Unopposed councilmembers Barbara Patrick, Janice Quarrels, Lynn Blake, and Luvetta Myers were returned to office. James Robinson and Anne S. Bailey, previously on the council, did not seek re-election.
All results reported here are unofficial until the ballots are officially canvassed and certified Sept. 2.
Runoff Schedule
Runoff elections are scheduled statewide for Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Absentee ballot deadlines begin September 5, when ballots and supplies must be delivered to city clerks. The last day to register to vote in the runoff is September 8. Public testing of electronic vote counters begins on September 9. Beginning September 15, qualified voters without acceptable photo ID may be issued a provisional absentee ballot. The deadline to apply for a regular absentee ballot is September 18. Voters may apply for an emergency absentee ballot until September 22, and that day is also the final deadline to deliver a completed absentee ballot by the close of business.
The runoff election will take place on September 23. Election officials must complete required canvassing and certification by September 30.
