Three Rivers voters will now have to decide between incumbent Tom Lowry and challenger Vernis Mims Jr. for mayor after the two candidates received the most votes in Tuesday’s primary election.

Lowry (342 votes) bested Mims (217) and Natelege Zaritz (86) Tuesday, garnering 52.86 percent of the 651 votes cast. Just 13.64 percent of the city’s 4,773 registered voters cast ballots yesterday, with the mayoral race serving as the lone item on the city ballot.

Three Rivers’ current and longtime mayor expressed gratitude following Tuesday’s results. “I am grateful to the citizens of Three Rivers for their support in this unusual election,” Lowry told Watershed Voice. “I will always serve for the common good of our city.”

Mims was also in high spirits, stating he looks forward to helping “make the city care again.” “I’m very Thankful to the people who came out to vote for the primaries, and ecstatic for the chance to go forward on this mission for change with the people of Three Rivers,” Mims wrote in an email to Watershed Voice. “We need to get our People to Vote 🗳️ Locally! It is important that we make the city care again, & I’m here to help in that transition.”

Colon Community Schools Millage Renewal

The Colon Community Schools Millage Renewal proposal passed Tuesday garnering 274 “yes” votes to 90 votes against.

Colon Community Schools was proposing a millage renewal of 18.561 mills for a period of 10 years from 2024 to 2033. The proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that would have expired with the 2023 tax levy.

Alek Haak-Frost is executive editor and publisher of Watershed Voice.