(PRICHARD, Ala.) - After 12 years representing Prichard residents on the City Council, Troy Ephriam will become the city's next mayor. Ephriam defeated two-term incumbent Ron Davis in Tuesday's runoff election.
With all precincts reporting, Ephriam walked away with 68% of the votes to Davis's 32%.
"It's not a win for me," Ephriam said following a victory address to supporters, "This is a win for the city of Prichard. Residents have been waiting for this for 30 years, I just want to say to them how much I love and appreciate their trust and confidence in me; it will not be forsaken, they will not be overlooked, and they will not have to every worry about this city not fulfilling this dream," he said.
Davis, who has been mayor for 8 years, said he faced an uphill battle as the incumbent. He pointed to a desire for change, complaints over high water bills as reasons he was ousted. Davis also mentioned the pension cut controversy which happened under his administration. Davis said, in a sense, the loss is a weight lifted, quickly adding he would hold Ephriam accountable for the promises he made.
"Prichard is in my heart, I want to see it grow and thrive and I will do anything to help him get to that point; I'm not going to leave or move out of Prichard because I am a citizen."
The mayor-elect agreed the weight would shift to his shoulders but added, "This is not a weight I will have to carry alone; the entire city will carry this weight with me."
