Columbia voters approved Proposition 1 in Tuesday’s election to increase the city’s sales tax by one cent to fund police and fire services. The unofficial vote total was 15,042 Yes, and 14,957 No.
Attorney and lobbyist Sharon Jones was elected to the Ward 4 seat on the Columbia City Council Tuesday with a 3,930 – 2,926 win over former city utilities director Dave Sorrell. Candidate Ryan King finished with 812 votes. Jones will fill the seat that was vacated by former councilman Nick Foster, who resigned to move to Atlanta with his family.
Columbia attorney Bill Ellis won endorsement in the Democrat primary for associate circuit on Tuesday over Spencer Smith, 13,347 – 7,524. Ellis raised more than $117,000 in campaign contributions during the campaign. Smith raised just a little more than $18,000. Ellis will now face Republican James Egan in the general election.