Shelby County voters selected new leadership Thursday, with several races carrying direct implications for Lakeland.
Closest to home, Republican Michele Dial, Lakeland’s Vice Mayor, won the Shelby County Commission District 3 seat, defeating Democrat Ryan Ramkhelawan. Dial received 7,852 votes, or 61.62%, compared with Ramkhelawan’s 4,884 votes, or 38.33%. District 3 includes Lakeland, giving Dial a direct role in representing the city in county government.
In the Lakeland School Board race, Keith Acton and Laura Harrison were re-elected, while newcomer Sara Castellaw was elected to her first term. All three candidates ran unopposed.
In another race affecting Lakeland, incumbent State Rep. Tom Leatherwood won the Republican primary for Tennessee House District 99, defeating Amber Mills 65.65% to 34.32%. U.S. Rep. David Kustoff also easily secured the Republican nomination in the 8th Congressional District.
At the top of the county ballot, Democrat Mickell Lowery was elected Shelby County Mayor, defeating Republican John DeBerry 66% to 34%. Anthony Buckner won the sheriff’s race with 69.83% over Republican Brad Less.
Democrat Javier Bailey was elected Shelby County Assessor of Property, receiving 63% of the vote in the three-way contest.
In Tennessee’s gubernatorial primaries, Marsha Blackburn captured the Republican nomination with 60.49% of the Shelby County vote shown in local results, while Jerri Green led the Democratic field in Shelby County with 63.49%.
