By Josh Bergeron 

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — Mayor Barbara Mallet’s re-election bid took a different route than most candidates.

Two months after the 2015 municipal elections, Mallett has officially been re-elected as East Spencer’s mayor.

Results from immediately after the election showed Mallett handily beating her competitors. She secured 143 votes more than candidate Rhonda Kerns, who received a total of 39 votes. Kerns the next day filed a complaint that alleged Mallett breached a buffer zone by escorting a number of people into East Spencer’s lone polling location.

In total, Kerns alleged Mallett escorted up to 90 people into the polling location. Kerns presented a few pictures and a video of the allegations.

In a November hearing, the Rowan County Board of Elections found some wrongdoing occurred. However, it wasn’t enough to change election results, board members said. Now, the State Board of Elections has affirmed the local decision, which finalizes Mallett’s re-election. She’ll continue in her role as East Spencer mayor until at least 2017.

“First of all, to God be the glory,” Mallett said in an interview Wednesday. “I want to thank all the supporters. We had to be vigilant and strong during this process.”

She said it was important not to become too aggressive or agitated during the state and local hearings.

“We just have to go through the process, be patient and wait on things to happen,” she said. “Justice still works.”

The Rowan County Board of Elections on Jan. 25 received a state order affirming the local ruling. In its order, the State Board of Elections said Mallett entered the voting area. However, it was fewer than 143 times. She violated state law, but it wasn’t significant enough to change election results, according to the order.

Mallett on Wednesday said she will ensure she follows all rules in the future.

The Rowan County Board of Elections certified the East Spencer election on Jan. 26. Mallett has now received a letter officially stating that she won re-election.

She said the town, with a population of less than 2,000 and an average yearly income of about $15,000, now has to focus on its most important priority: economic development.

“We need to get some development to overflow into East Spencer and build our tax base,” she said.

At the same time, Mallett said, town officials need to ensure daily tasks are completed. As examples, she mentioned keeping lights on, cleaning streets, keeping the city’s finances together and providing water and sewer.

Mallett said town staff are “knowledgeable and capable” of succeeding at drawing new business while continuing the daily task of running East Spencer.

With the state decision, Mallett will officially begin serving her fourth term in office. East Spencer town staff in December mistakenly swore in Mallett to another term. With the election protest pending, state law technically required the town to wait until the state made a decision.

In cases where an election protest is pending, the current elected official continues to serve, meaning that Mallett would have continued in her position regardless of whether she was sworn in.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.