— Two men are headed for a runoff for Tahlequah’s Ward 2 City Council seat, and a familiar face will once again be the town’s street commissioner.

Charles Carroll and Jonathan Wells will meet April 2 to determine who will fill Jack Spears’ Ward 2 councilor seat. Spears declined to run for re-election.

Carroll finished with 246 votes (34.02 percent,) while Wells ended with 203 votes (28.08 percent.)

“I’ve been here a long time, and I figure people know me and what I stand for,” Carroll said. “And anyone who doesn’t know me can depend on those that do.”

Carroll and Wells topped two other challengers. David Whitekiller finished with 161 votes (22.27 percent,) and Gary Cacy finished with 113 votes (15.63 percent.)

“I knew it being a single ward, chances were that it would be a runoff,” Wells said. “I’m really hoping that I can meet with several different civic groups that, just because of time constraints, I haven’t been able to meet with.

“Now that there’s just two of us in the race, I think we can get deeper into some issues facing Tahlequah.”

Wells said the basis of his campaign was a focus on the future and the infrastructure needed to progress. A $21 million sales tax was recently passed by Tahlequah voters, and Wells preached fiscal prudence as a focus of his campaign.

“There’s a lot of people out there that are skeptical that the city is managing a debt that large,” Wells said. “One of my promises was and is that given the opportunity, I’ll exercise fiscal prudence at every turn.”

Incumbent Mike Corn topped challenger Terry Garrett in the street commissioner race, earning the right to a sixth term.

Corn totaled 1,269 votes (62.98 percent) to Garrett’s 746 votes (37.02 percent.)

This is just the second time, and the first since 1993, that Corn has faced a challenger.

“We’ve got some ongoing projects here that I’d like to get completed, and some new projects coming soon,” Corn said. “I’m grateful for the voters and the taxpayers that helped me get in here again. I’m going to work for the council and going to do what needs done. It’s a happy night for me.”

Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth@muskogeephoenix.com.

Results

• Ward 2 Councilor — Charles Carroll, 246, or 34.02 percent; Jonathan Wells, 203, or 28.08 percent; David Whitekiller, 161, or 22.27 percent; Gary Cacy, 113, or 15.63 percent.

• Street commissioner — Mike Corn, 1,269, or 62.98 percent; Terry R. Garrett, 746, or 37.02 percent.