Jane Anderton, a longtime resident and first-time candidate, defeated incumbent Mayor Charles Webster to be elected as the next mayor for the City of Clay.
The final vote count was 282 for Anderton and 254 for Webster, resulting in a margin of victory of 28 votes.
This upset means significant changes are on the horizon for the city. In a candidate forum hosted by the Trussville Tribune, Anderton has pledged to increase transparency, including making more public records available online, expanding opportunities for residents to get involved through boards and commissions, and reinstating an independent library board. The most significant change, however, is restoring power to the mayor's office and abolishing the position of city manager.
According to the City's website, "Clay, named after the type of soil found in this area, is located in the highlands of northeast Jefferson County and is bounded by the cities of Argo, Trussville, Pinson and Center Point. As neighboring cities began to expand their boundaries, the community of Clay incorporated in June 2000 with a desire to protect its identity and chart its own course. The original incorporation included an estimated 2,500 citizens." The latest census estimates a population of approximately 10,241.
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