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.”