The 2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election was held on 26 August 2014.[1] Both the mayor and all eight members of the city council were elected. The election date was announced on 3 July 2014.[2][3]
Mayoral election
2014 Auburn, Alabama mayoral election|
|
|
|
|
| Candidate
|
Bill Ham Jr.
|
|
| Party
|
Nonpartisan
|
|
| Popular vote
|
Uncontested
|
|
|
Mayor before election
Bill Ham Jr.
|
Elected mayor
Bill Ham Jr.
| |
The incumbent mayor Bill Ham Jr. ran unopposed in the mayoral election.[4]
City council elections
Four of the eight city council members ran unopposed, with three of those being incumbents.[5][4]
Ward 1
Leading up to the election, two lawsuits were filed against Clemon Byrd, claiming that his house was not in the boundary lines of Ward 1.[6] The first lawsuit was dismissed following advice from attorney John Michael Segrest that the Lee County Circuit Court does not have the ability to remove a candidate's name form the ballot.[7][8] The second lawsuit, filed by the Dowdell family, was dismissed in September 2014.[9][10]
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 1[11]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Clemon E. Byrd
|
252
|
63.2%
|
| Arthur L. Dowdell Sr.
|
147
|
36.8%
|
| Total votes
|
399
|
100.0%
|
Aftermath
After the election results were published, a fight broke out at Auburn City Hall among supporters of Arthur Dowdell.[5] Dowdell made claims of voter fraud, claiming that people voted twice, and "Clemon Byrd, once again, stole this election."[12]
Ward 2
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 2[4]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Ron Anders Jr.
|
Unopposed
|
100%
|
Ward 3
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 3[11]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Beth Witten
|
219
|
55.7%
|
| Wendell McClain
|
174
|
44.3%
|
| Total votes
|
393
|
100.0%
|
Ward 4
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 4[4]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Brent Beard
|
Unopposed
|
100%
|
Ward 5
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 5[11]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Lynda V. Tremaine
|
753
|
83.9%
|
| Robin Kelley
|
144
|
16.1%
|
| Total votes
|
897
|
100.0%
|
Ward 6
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 6[11]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Dick Phelan
|
253
|
62.2%
|
| Brad Donnelly
|
154
|
37.8%
|
| Total votes
|
407
|
100%
|
Ward 7
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 7[4]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Gene Dulaney
|
Unopposed
|
100%
|
Ward 8
2014 Auburn, Alabama municipal election – Ward 8[4]
| Candidate
|
Votes
|
%
|
| Thomas Dawson
|
Unopposed
|
100%
|
Alternate voting options
Absentee ballots were due by 25 August 2014.[13]
Election summary
| Position
|
Before election[14]
|
After election
|
Image
|
| Mayor
|
Bill Ham Jr.
|
Bill Ham Jr.
|
|
| Ward 1
|
Arthur L. Dowdell Sr.
|
Clemon Byrd
|
|
| Ward 2
|
Ron Anders Jr.[a]
|
Ron Anders Jr.
|
|
| Ward 3
|
Thomas Worden
|
Beth Witten
|
|
| Ward 4
|
Brent Beard
|
Brent Beard
|
|
| Ward 5
|
Robin Kelley
|
Lynda Tremaine
|
|
| Ward 6
|
Dick Phelan
|
Dick Phelan
|
|
| Ward 7
|
Gene Dulaney
|
Gene Dulaney
|
|
| Ward 8
|
Bob Norman
|
Thomas Dawson
|
|
Notes
- ^ Anders was appointed in 2012 after Sheila Eckman resigned, after being elected to the Lee County Commission.[15][16]
References
- ^ "2014 Municipal Election" (PDF). City of Auburn. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Dorton, David (July 3, 2014). "Notice of Election". Auburn News. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "2014 Scheduled Elections". Alabama Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Blankenship, Allison (July 14, 2014). "Candidates qualify for municipal election". The Auburn Villager. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Auburn municipal election results announced Tuesday". WTVM 9. August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "Second Auburn resident files suit against Byrd". The Auburn Villager. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Notice to Dismiss filed in case claiming Byrd's Ward 1 residency fraudulent". The Auburn Villager. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Oliver, Kristen. "Auburn resident drops lawsuit against council hopeful Clemon Byrd". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ Taylor, Drew. "Judge dismisses suit claiming Auburn councilman doesn't live in ward he represents". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Drew. "Dowdell family files complaint against Byrd following Auburn election upset". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Resolution no. 14-177" (Document). Auburn, Alabama: City of Auburn. September 2, 2014.
- ^ Taylor, Drew. "Clemon Byrd stuns incumbent Arthur Dowdell in Ward 1". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Auburn prepares for August 26 municipal election". WTVM 9. August 15, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "2014 Municipal Election" (PDF). City of Auburn. September 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Callis, Sydney (November 18, 2012). "Ron Anders replaces Eckman as Ward 2 councilmember". The Auburn Plainsman. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ Chesser, Daniel. "Eckman moves from city to county elected offices". The Auburn Villager. Retrieved April 23, 2025.