Preliminary local election results indicate new governments for Tangier, Chincoteague, Cape Charles and more

Tuesday’s local contested elections brought a few surprises.

In Chincoteague, Denise Bowden defeated incumbent Mayor Arthur Leonard with an Election Day vote total of 1,155 to Leonard’s 841. However, this could change once early and mail-in vote totals are included.

In the Chincoteague Town Council race, four candidates were running for three available seats. Bill McComb Jr., Nick Howard, and Gene Wayne Taylor were elected to the Chincoteague Town Council.

In Onancock, as of midnight, Lisa Feige, Omar Grubb, and Maphis Oswald were leading in the vote counts. This could change once early and absentee ballots are counted.

In the Belle Haven mayor’s race, incumbent George Ludlow defeated his challenger, but the challenger’s name was not included in the initial results.

The most hotly contested mayor and Town Council election occurred on Tangier Island.

In the mayor’s race, incumbent Ooker Eskridge defeated Cameron Evans 130 to 98.

In the Tangier Town Council race, Tracy Pruitt, Anna Pruitt-Parks, Kelly Wheatley, Sharon Haynie, Elizabeth Thomas, and Tommy Eskridge III will fill the Town Council seats.

In Northampton County, all early and mail-in ballots have already been included in the reported totals. In Cheriton, Stacy Sparrow defeated incumbent Larry Lemond for mayor. The winners of the Cheriton Town Council race were Bo Lewis, Terri Lynn Tatem, Barry Downing Jr., Jason Sparrow, Norma Spencer, and Sheila Traina.

In Cape Charles, the top three vote-getters in the Town Council race were Andy Bucholz, Tara Ashworth, Ed Wells and Clayton Newman.

These results are preliminary and pending official certification. Provisional ballots will need to be reviewed and approved by the electoral board.