Voters turned out in force today for the City of Salem primary election and voted for change.
In the Mayor’s race, former Mayor Judy Chastain was defeated by 25 votes by Salem Police Chief Troy Merry. He will be the Democrat candidate in this November’s election.
Chastain, who was defeated two terms ago by current Mayor David Bower, received 317 votes. Merry received 342. Chastain received two absentee votes while Merry received 4 absentee votes.
The total votes were Merry 346 to 319.
State Farm Insurance Agent Ron Haendiges defeated Washington County Assessor Jason Cockerill for the Republican nomination. for Mayor candidate.
Haendiges received almost twice as many votes — 240 to Cockerill’s 125. There were no absentee votes for either of these candidates.
