Business editor elected mayor of Georgia town

Jan Moore, the business editor of the Statesboro Herald in south Georgia, has been elected mayor of the town in a close race.

Jeff Harrison of the Herald writes, “In a race settled by fewer than 100 votes, Jan Moore became Statesboro’s first woman mayor, defeating Jonathan McCollar, who would have been the first black person to hold the office.

“Moore claimed the victory by a margin of just 93 votes, according to unofficial results. A total of 1,867 ballots were cast in the contest, a total of 17.5 percent of registered voters in the city.

“‘I’m very humbled and grateful for the support that I have been given; and for the trust that has been placed in me by the citizens of Statesboro,’ Moore said after learning the results. ‘I thought that Jonathan McCollar ran a very good campaign. I am very pleased that we were able to keep the campaign about the issues. I hope that moving forward, everyone can unite and work together to make the city a better place.’

“Moore, 51, edged her opponent by garnering 980 votes, 52 percent of the turnout.

“She will succeed Joe Brannen as mayor, and be sworn in at a January City Council meeting.

“The mayor’s office will be the first public office held by Moore, a Statesboro native, and the business editor for the Statesboro Herald and behavior intervention specialist/psychologist for the Bulloch County Board of Education.”

Read more here.