There were a few surprises among the results in Wilkes county’s local elections yesterday.
Ronda, smallest of the three Wilkes municipalities, was the one to watch. While Victor Varela with 90 votes is the clear Mayor-elect (Derie Cheek Reece lost with 60 votes), the council race proved more difficult.

A write-in candidate took the majority: Maria Soots, with 81 votes, shook things up for balloted candidates Rex Ashley (76 votes) and Kevin Reece (59 votes). Ashley will join Soots on the council.

Town Councilman Mike Inscore won the mayor race in Wilkesboro with 464 votes. Pete Mann earned 273 votes- a good turnout, but not enough to keep the Town Council from having to appoint an Inscore replacement. The Council will have to appoint someone to fill his two-year council term. Wilkesboro’s town council race seated Jimmy C. Hayes with 304 votes and Sam Stroud with 364 votes.

Meanwhile, in North Wilkesboro, newcomer Jeffrey Elmore and incumbent Bert Hall were elected to town commissioner seats. Seven other candidates were on the ballot.