Residents voted for Scoville because of his community involvement and the need for a change.
Scoville beat out his competition by a wide margin to become the city’s first new mayor since 1993.
His turn as county attorney and other positions he has held in Georgetown led many voters to choose him over Marty Tennant, Ron Charlton, Kizzie Lawson and Bob Sizemore.
Voter Charles Wells said he wasn’t surprised that Scoville took the lead early on, and stayed ahead throughout the evening.
Front runner
“I thought he was a front runner to start with,” he said. “I thought he was the man to beat. He is high profile, he is an attorney, he is in the city hub a good bit. A lot of people know him and he has been around a long time.
“A lot of people just didn’t know Bob Sizemore, so there was a big difference there. [Scoville] is just a very high profile guy.”
City resident Catherine Padgett said Scoville won because city residents wanted a different style of leadership.
“After a certain period of time, it was time for new leadership,’’ Padgett said. “We needed a mayor and council that are business friendly.”
She said Scoville has a long list of qualifications that make him good fit for becoming the Mayor of Georgetown.
Able, qualified
“Jack was certainly an able and qualified candidate,’’ said voter Linda Mathis. “He’s got all the credentials behind him and he is knowledgeable about the law and how government works.
“He did campaign hard. He was very well spoken at the event in Maryville, but you would expect him to be — he talks for a living.
“I think he worked hard at it and people decided that is who they wanted. They wanted him badly enough that they made it to the polls to vote.”
Another voter, who asked not to be named, said dissatisfaction with the economy in Georgetown could have influenced the outcome of the election.
The city has lost numerous jobs in the manufacturing segment, since the Georgetown steel mill closed for an undetermined amount of time.
There are also empty storefronts on Front Street and lack of new businesses arriving in town.
“I think everybody was ready for a change,” she said. “I think we have so many people who are unemployed, they tend to think that the city should be doing more.
“I think it’s just the economic trends that has everybody upset.”
She said Scoville’s legal background also helped him win.
“Jack Scoville has a legal background and he has always been active in the community in different ways,’’ she said.
“Voters like the fact that some people have been here forever. He was a strong candidate because he has been involved and he cares about what goes on.”
Terry Johnson, who voted at the Dreamkeepers center added that he cast a ballot for Scoville, because Scoville is familiar with Georgetown.
“I have known him since I was a kid. He knows Georgetown and knows the community. We need someone in there who knows the people of the community. Someone we can stop and talk to on the street.”
Donald and Jeanette Smith of Maryville said they voted for Scoville because they hope he will do something about some eyesores in the city.
“I hope they tear some of these old worn out buildings down,’’ she said. “Some of them have been there for 40 years and need to go.”
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You feel sorry for G'town. What a well-thought-out informative comment. Please bless us with more of your wisdom. Posted by on 11/14/2009 |
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I sure fill sorry for G'town with Jack Scoville as Mayor Posted by on 11/14/2009 |
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Wow he did say that he would give free internet. Oh well nobody will hold him to that, they never do. As long as the Democrats are happy with him he will be in office. The Republicans are just to lazy to vote or stick together, all they like to do is whine. So what we are left with is a city (and country) going down a rabbit hole of entitlement socialism that quite frankly will be our destruction. Happy thoughts hunh? Posted by on 11/12/2009 |
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Weekender, you really need to try to get out more. I guess MSNBC didn't report on Virginia and New Jersey; you may want to read up on that. Not high on the Republican politicians much either, but at least they're not socialist. Hope you are still real happy about your height. Posted by Dr. Ben Dare on 11/10/2009 |
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Scoville got elected for the same reason many democrats across America got elected in these elections and last year's. The Republicans have laid waste to our country with a historic level of greed and corruption. The party will have to be remade and then prove itself before anybody will vote them back in again. Some of us may never forget what they have done. Until then Rush just buries them deeper with his drug-induced hatred. Palin is a classic mistake. Posted by Weekender on 11/9/2009 |
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google "scoville for mayor free internet" read it fast before he takes it down! Posted by on 11/7/2009 |
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Marty and his lone supporter, that Lee fella, seem very bitter. I am not saying Mr. Scoville did not promise free wireless but can you direct me to an article or website where the promise was made. Posted by on 11/7/2009 |
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No, the reason Marty didn't get votes like Jack is because he didn't promise free wireless Internet to all citizens. That is the real reason Jack won. He promised a chicken in every pot and wireless nirvana for all. Jack, we will hold you to this campaign promise. Posted by free bandwidth junkie on 11/7/2009 |
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Marty got beat for the same reason RON CHARLTON GOT BEAT BY MORE THAN TWO TO ONE. This city belongs to the dems. Old Ron was supposedly the "people's choice"? More like the people said by more than two to one that Ron Charlton is not the people's choice. Posted by on 11/7/2009 |
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A really great question would be why did about 90% of the voters vote against Marty Tennant? That is a HUGE defeat. That was the smackdown of all smackdowns in Georgetown elections. Posted by on 11/7/2009 |
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Why doesn't the Times ask voters why a majority of them voted against Scoville? Much more interesting. Posted by on 11/6/2009 |
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Clueless, the 'Ol Wise One was wise enough to move out of the City some years ago and into the incorporated part of the County, and thus, cannot run for City office. Posted by on 11/6/2009 |
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As much as small towns hate Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot, tell me who employs more people. Walmart or the boutique on Front Street? Walmart or the local hardware store? Walmart. Also, jobs in Georgetown don't pay enough to support me shopping at the local business. Don't get me wrong, I love to support local business. When I eat or go out for drinks, I do it at a local business; however, if I need a book, I can save anywhere from 5-10 dollars by shopping at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com than I can by going to the local book store. If I need groceries, Walmart gives me a better price than Piggly Wiggly. It sucks for small business, but its capitalism to a T, and until we change economic systems, that is what we are stuck with. Meanwhile, congrats to those who were elected. I wish you nothing but the best in righting the ship that is Georgetown's economy. Posted by Ouija Board on 11/6/2009 |
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Yes, please, keep all forms of competition out. Do not allow another cable company like Horry Telephone Coop to come into the city. We already have two and we don't need any more. Oh yeah, you already did that and now the City is being sued in federal court. Nevermind. Posted by on 11/6/2009 |
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Good luck to all who were elected, now ti time to get to work! I only hope that you all can do what you can to help small businesses in Georgetown-all Georgetown not just front street! Please do all you can to keep Lowes,Home Depot and Walmart types out They do nothing but KILL our town. We need Industry and real jobs. Corporate America has screwed over small town America long enough. Take a stand for local business not corporate town killers please. Posted by on 11/6/2009 |
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LOL, the only comment I can make is the photo above. MAn, if that isn't a BAD hair piece, I think he needs a good barber to layer that stuff. Posted by on 11/6/2009 |
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So please, oh wise one, give us all a clue on how to approach the challenges of today or tomorrow, and tell us what the real problems are as you see them. It is easy to criticize from afar, but to offer solutions, now that would be a horse of a different color. Also, if you are so wise, why didn't you run? Posted by Clueless on 11/6/2009 |
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Nothing has or will change in Georgetown City Government. None of the newly elected members of Council or the Mayor have the skills, vision, insight, or know-how to operate the City efficiently and prudently to produce effective results. The same goes for the three hold-overs who will continue to sit on City Council. What is worse is that none of the other candidates on the ballot would have performed better if they had been voted into office. No one has a clue as to how to approach the challenges of today or tomorrow. At times, I question whether they even know what the real problems are. In short, the voters did not have any real, meaningful choices at the ballot box. In the end, all that can be said about the results of the election is that there has been "a rearranging of the chairs on the deck of the Titanic." Unfortunately, continued bad times and a void of real leadership will continue for the forseeable future. Posted by on 11/6/2009 |
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