McCutcheon defeats incumbent Sims in Olanta mayoral election

OLANTA — Olanta will have a new mayor in January after Jimmy McCutcheon’s victory over incumbent Betty Sims in Tuesday’s town elections.

The town’s leadership also will have by two more new faces, Tommy “Mitch” Driggers Jr. and Eric L. Evans, who won town council seats in the elections.

McCutcheon received 159 votes to Sims’ 73.

“I’m very excited,” McCutcheon said after the unofficial results were released. “It was a team effort.”

He has lived in Olanta for 45 years and served terms on the town’s council during the 1970s and 1990s, he said.

He told the Lake City News & Post in a previous interview that he is a “big fan” of economic development and would like to see new businesses open in Olanta.

McCutcheon also said he ran for mayor because he wanted to get involved in the community again after retiring a year ago. He said he thinks transparency in the operations of city government will be a big step toward building unity among citizens.

Sims, who is finishing her first term as mayor, said she was disappointed she lost because she had several projects she wanted to finish.

Those efforts include water and sewer work, installation of two new wells, and a streetscape project, she told the Lake City News & Post last month.

Sims said, however, that her husband is glad to have her back at home.

She also had served three terms on town council before she was elected mayor.

In the town council race, Driggers received 162 votes and Evans garnered 161. A third candidate, Alice C. Smalls, finished with 90 votes.

“I’m ready to get down to business,” Driggers said Tuesday night.

Evans told the Lake City News & Post last month he has lived in Olanta for 10 years and that he thinks the town’s residents need to unite around the idea of making the town better.

Smalls said in a previous interview she also wanted Olanta residents to work together and be peaceful. She had called for more businesses to bring jobs to the town and for the town to provide more recreational opportunities for children and youths.

Robert Thompson and Mary Welsh, the council members who hold those seats, didn’t seek re-election.