It was a close race and had seemed so all along.

Former schoolteacher, administrator and coach Dr. Matt Hubbard has been elected Mayor of Sylacauga. Hubbard defeated local Pastor and former Mayoral candidate Bryan Taunton by 46 votes.

Hubbard received 1,137 votes to Taunton’s 1,091 (about 51%-49%).

There was not a total available on outstanding provisional ballots.

In the runoff for City Council District 4, incumbent Lee Perryman lost to challenger Tim Vincent 386 to 178.

Incumbent Mayor Jim Heigl had run for re-election in the August 26 election but failed to make the runoff.

The new Mayor will take office Monday, November 3.

Hubbard recently retired after a 32-year career in Alabama public education that included service as a classroom science teacher, athletics coach, assistant principal and principal at Sylacauga High School, and executive director of supporting programs for Sylacauga City Schools.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]