Mack scores rare write-in win for Lamar Council
Mary Ann Mack
By Samantha Lyles
Staff Writer
slyles@newsandpress.net
Mary Ann Mack won a surprise win in the July 14 special election for Lamar Town Council, garnering 86 votes by write-in and besting ballot candidates Buzz Segars (23 votes) and Tyler Cook (28 votes) by a wide margin.
Though write-in campaigns rarely secure victories, Mack’s win is even more surprising because it was an 11th-hour effort.
“I was approached just over 24 hours before the election by some people in the community who asked me if they did a write-in for me, would I be willing to serve,” says Mack, who admits she didn’t immediately warm to the idea. “Originally, I said no, but told them I would think about it.”
Recently retired after 32 years with the Lee County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, including serving as director, Mack reflected that her original retirement plans did include taking a bigger role in community service.
After pondering the idea that service could be performed in local government, she relented and changed her mind.
“I told them that if they had confidence in me, and the people of the community believed in me, that I would serve,” says Mack. “I never was really political, but I’ve always been willing to pitch in and help.”
A lifelong resident of Lamar, Mack has served on the town’s Beautification Committee and currently serves as treasurer for the Egg Scramble Jamboree Committee. She is a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church and serves as the church’s outreach coordinator
