Long, Plumley, Pace, Houser win Cottonwood Shores council races

COTTONWOOD SHORES — As expected, voters elected Mayor Janelle Long to serve a term in her own right during the May 14 City Council election.
Earlier this year, the council appointed Long as mayor after former Mayor Bentley Martin resigned for health and family reasons.
Long ran without opposition and will now serve a two-year term.
Also, incumbent Bill Plumley received 60 out of 107 votes cast to win re-election to Position 2 on the council.
He defeated challenger Howard Bostwick, who received 47 votes.
In the race for Position 3, newcomer Mary Ann Houser received 62 votes to defeat former Councilman Ray Whitis, who got 45 votes.
Houser will fill the unexpired term for Brad Kline, who recently resigned from the council. 
Incumbent Judy Pace won re-election to Position 4, as she squeezed ahead of challenger Frank R. Smith by eight votes.
Smith is Cottonwood Shores’ former police chief who earlier raised concerns about convicted felons working for the city.
The council has amended its policy to allow employment of felons 10 or more years after their convictions.
Pace received 58 votes, Smith got 50.
raymond@thepicayune.com