Brookhaven’s neighboring city of Monticello saw incumbents rulethe ballot boxes during Tuesday’s election, with its longtime mayorextending his term and only one new face elected to the cityboard.

Perhaps the biggest winner of the June 2 election was MonticelloMayor Dave Nichols, who was voted into a fourth term heading up thecounty seat. Nichols held off a pair of challengers, garnering 201votes to defeat Richard Sykes, who gathered 159 votes; and JoanParkman, who gathered 59 votes. Nichols’ total represents almosthalf of the 420 total votes cast in Monticello’s election, whereCity Clerk Debbie Lea said only a handful of affidavit ballotsremained uncounted.

“It feels great that the people have validated the job we havedone,” said Nichols, who will begin his 13th year in office inJuly. “We believe the town is moving in the right direction, and welook forward to continuing to work hard for the Town of Monticellofor the next four years.”

Nichols named ongoing projects such as the creation of afrontage road, the development of a river walk and sewerinstallation projects as important works he will continue tooversee from the mayor’s chair.

“And, of course, economic development is always on theforefront,” he said. “Our sales tax is up considerably, new storeshave opened … we’ve got to keep doing that. It’s business asusual.”

The only change in Monticello’s election was to Ward Three,where challenger Martha Watts defeated incumbent James Wilson by avote of 29-23. Ward One Alderman Jerry Goode, Ward Two AldermanSteve Moreman, Ward Four Alderman Kevin Garrett and Ward FiveAlderman Craig Davis were all re-elected after runningunopposed.