By BECKY CRISSMAN
becky.crissman@cordeledispatch.com

CORDELE/VIENNA/UNADILLA — Voters spoke out in a big way at the polls with elections taking place in Cordele, Vienna, and Unadilla.
In Cordele, the continuation of the E-SPLOST was approved by 74.76% of the voting population, receiving 1,167 votes in favor of the SPLOST and only 394 (25.24%) voting against it.
Both races for City Commission seats will be heading for a runoff.
In Ward One Vesta Shepard took the lead with 107 votes (46.32%). It is unsure which of the two remaining candidates will be in the runoff with Shepard. Sammie Hill Sr received 61 votes (26.41%) and Mochanda Davis received 63 votes (27.7%).
For the Ward Four seat there will be a runoff between Wesley Rainey who received 195 votes (46.43%) and William “Billy” White who received 129 votes (30.71%). Roy Dale Jr. earned 12.86% with a total of 54 votes and Trae Sims received 41 votes for 9.76%.
It was a bad night for incumbents in both Vienna and Unadilla.
In Vienna, Hobby Stripling Sr. beat incumbent Eddie Daniels in the race for mayor with a total of 418 votes to Daniels’ 340. The race for vacant City Council seat will be decided in a runoff between candidates Susan McNeese and Albert King, who received 310 and 231 votes respectively. Incumbent Henry Johnson received 197 votes.
It was a close race in Unadilla but with the final votes counted, Myron Mixon defeated incumbent Dr. Bobby West by a mere 20 votes (241 to 221).  Winning the three at large seats on the Unadilla City Council were; Tyrone Adkinson – 221 votes, Dexter Whittaker – 214 votes and Chester Thomas – 210 votes. Thomas was the only incumbent to get re-elected. Other totals in that race included; Greg Speight – 199 votes, Lancester Taylor – 196 votes, and Layfield Buckholts – 149 votes.
For the Cordele election, totals including the provisional votes will be finalized on Friday.