Gerald S. Stokes stressed fiscal responsibility and opposed some council decisions on development. Councilman-elect K. Wayne Walton made Hopewell's waterfront a key campaign theme.

HOPEWELL -- Former city Treasurer Gerald S. Stokes defeated incumbent E. Randy Sealey yesterday in a heated race for the Ward 4 City Council seat.

Sealey's defeat was surprising to local leaders and to Sealey. Sealey, a business owner who has lived in Hopewell since the late 1980s, lost by 57 votes. Stokes, a lifelong resident, got 298 votes; Sealey got 241.

"I knew it was going to be close, but I expected to win, so I was surprised with the results," Sealey, 51, said at his home, where supporters gathered last night. "Either more people feel the city is going in the wrong direction, or some of the people who feel the city is going in the right direction didn't go to vote today."

Sealey's swing vote in December in favor of construction of an ethanol plant near downtown may have hurt him, fellow council members said yesterday. Sealey agreed, but he said a decision against the plant also would have had its negatives. "Ethanol would have hurt me in both directions," he said.

The plan to build the ethanol plant has divided the city of 23,000 residents. Sealey was the only council member up for re-election in a contested race of the four who voted in favor of the plant.

Stokes campaigned on fiscal responsibility and opposing some recent council decisions on development projects. Yesterday he said he would not support the ethanol plant.

Stokes, 70, served as Hopewell's treasurer for more than 30 years and currently works in the sheriff's office.

In Ward 5, voters elected longtime city resident K. Wayne Walton, 63, over his former schoolmate Jerry A. Williams. Walton will take the council seat that is being vacated by Mayor Steven R. Taylor, who is retiring from public office after his second term.

Walton, who made the waterfront a central campaign theme, won with 326 votes to Williams' 144.

"I am a river guy," Walton, a member of Friends of the Lower Appomattox River, said last night. He said the city needs to make better use of the waterfront area and one of his priorities will be pushing for "economic development in the city, preferably on the waterfront."

Williams, 62, who retired from Verizon and was running for office for the first time, said he and Walton "worked the ward very hard," knowing only one would be victorious.

Voter turnout was higher yesterday than four years ago, when none of the races was contested. Public officials and city leaders last night said they expected more participation this time because Hopewell is facing several challenges, including the expansion of Fort Lee, the controversial ethanol plan, housing and commercial developments, and projects to revitalize downtown.

Brenda S. Pelham, vice mayor representing Ward 6, ran unopposed. She got 113 votes yesterday.
Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.