Montgomery certifies May 2 election; Sarah Countryman sworn in as mayor, Cheryl Fox and Casey L. Oland declared council winners

The Montgomery City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance canvassing the May 2, 2026 general election and swore in newly elected officials.

City staff reported 477 ballots were cast (329 early votes, 27 absentee, 121 election-day ballots) from 2,138 registered voters, a turnout of 22.31% as listed in the adopted ordinance. The official results in the ordinance declared Sarah Countryman elected mayor (188 votes listed for Countryman in the canvass). The ordinance text also lists the candidate identified in the canvas as elected to city council place 2 (candidate string in the record) and Cheryl Fox elected to council place 4 (297 votes).

After the certification, the council presented certificates and administered the oath of office to the winners. Council later nominated and appointed Cheryl Fox to serve as mayor pro tem.

The canvass prompted public comment from a resident who said a precinct/mapping error initially prevented him from seeing the city races on his ballot on election day; city staff responded that the city had submitted correct maps to Election Central and that Election Central’s map error had been raised and addressed with them. A voter, Tim Stone, described being turned away at the polling site and later allowed to vote after Election Central reviewed his address; he told the council he felt “disenfranchised” when he and potentially other neighbors were initially prevented from voting for city offices. City staff said they have addressed the issue with Election Central.

Council approved the ordinance by motion and accepted the official canvas report as provided by the presiding judge. The ordinance (No. 2026-09) will be preserved in the city's permanent records. The new mayor and councilmembers will assume the duties and take any remaining procedural steps required by state law.