Atlantic Beach leaders remove election commission amid mayoral race outcome

The Atlantic Beach election commission has been disbanded by outgoing mayor Jake Evans and two council members amid a disputed race for the town’s top seat.

Unofficial results from the Nov. 7 race show council member Josephine Isom and John David Jr. headed for a Thanksgiving-week runoff after neither secured enough votes to win outright.

Eighteen ballots were contested and reviewed by the town’s election commission on Thursday, but had yet to be certified. The commission reconvened Friday to recount the challenged ballots.

Isom confirmed to The Sun News Nov. 10 that town elections chief Joe Montgomery had been fired, but declined further comment.

Montgomery said Nov. 10 he was unable to comment.

David told The Sun News Nov. 10 that he’ll ask the S.C. Election Commission to intervene. State offices were closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.

“These folks are out of freaking order. They’re doing anything they want to do,” David said of the town’s current leadership.

Montgomery was dismissed after the council called an emergency meeting.

Unlike regularly scheduled or special meetings, public bodies can call for emergency sessions but must adhere to strict guidelines.

“Emergency ordinances require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of council present, but only one reading is required,” the Municipal Association of South Carolina explains on its website. “The emergency powers of council are limited in scope and time. Emergency ordinances automatically expire in 60 days, and emergency meetings must be clearly approved by council and limited to appropriate purposes.”

A copy of Friday’s agenda for the emergency meeting was not immediately available for review by The Sun News.

Evans also did not return a call seeking comment but told WMBF he worried about the commission’s professionalism.

The leader in the mayoral race swapped with the addition of the 18 previously challenged ballots. Unofficial results on Tuesday showed Josephine Isom ahead of John W. David Jr., 62-49. As of Thursday, David has one vote more than his fellow town council member Isom — 65 to 64.

A date for the rematch between David and Isom was also not immediately known, although David said he welcomes another election.

“Bring it. Let’s go. That’s what I want,” David said.