Van City Official Edges Out Victory Against Incumbent Mayor

Article published May 11, 2008
By LAUREN GROVER
Staff Writer
VAN — It was a squeeze, said Billy Wilson, who won the mayoral race here against incumbent Billy B. Smith by five votes Saturday night.
“It was tight, and I knew it was going to get down to the wire,” said Wilson, who has served on Van’s City Council for one year. “I’m very excited. I worked hard, called a lot of people.”
The complete, unofficial results Saturday night were 127-122 in Wilson’s favor. Smith, who beat Wilson two years ago by about 50 votes, said a change in trash service upset some residents working in commercial business and led to opposition in this race that was “too much for me to overcome.”
“I’m still going to be interested in doing anything in the city I can,” Smith said Saturday night. “I called Mr. Wilson and indicated if I could help him as he transitions into the job I would do it.”
Early voters helped Wilson take a 39-32 vote lead going into Saturday. On Election Day, Wilson received 88 votes to Smith’s 90 votes. Turnout was excellent, perhaps even a record for early voting, said Wilson and Smith. About 1,400 voters are registered in Van.
“The more citizens involved the better community you have,” Smith said.
Both men seemed to bear no hard feelings toward one another in their second clash for mayor.
“I knew it would be close because Mr. Smith is a good man,” Wilson said.
Opening the line of communication between city hall and taxpayers is first on the agenda, Wilson said, followed by encouraging Van’s growth as a thriving
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