JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams last week swears in three returning incumbent councilmen. Pictured, from left, are Thom Guylas, Dean Burrell and Troy Purnell.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Oct. 18, 2018) Three Berlin Town Council incumbents were sworn in during a public meeting last Tuesday.

District 1 Councilman Troy Purnell, District 4 Councilman Dean Burrell and At-Large Councilman Thom Gulyas officially started new terms in office after each was re-elected by default as they faced no challengers. Council terms are four years.

For the second time in the last three election cycles, the Town Council election was canceled because of the lack of opposition.

A contested election was held two years ago, when Mayor Gee Williams was reelected and Councilman Zack Tyndall won a first term.

The Town Council election in 2014 was canceled, when Gulyas won his first term and Purnell and Burrell were reelected without opposition.

This year, the Sept. 4 filing deadline and the Sept. 25 write-in deadline both passed without any challenges to the incumbents. The Town Council election, scheduled Oct. 2, was officially canceled by the Board of Supervisors of Elections on Sept. 25.

Williams swore in the returning councilmen before full house at the outset of a Town Council meeting last Tuesday at Town Hall.

“I’d like to congratulate my colleagues on their successful election,” Tyndall said.

“I hope you find the next four years rewarding and invigorating,” Williams added.