With a 54-percent turnout in Weakley County, incumbent Martin Mayor Randy Brundige cruised to re-election last Tuesday against his challenger, UTM biology major Brent Smoyer.

Brundige, who is finishing his first term as Martin’s first full-time chief executive, won by a 1,143-vote margin, picking up 70 percent of the 2,803 votes cast.

In winning, Brundige swept all four Martin precincts, though Smoyer performed better at the historically student-heavy Trinity Presbyterian Church box, where he mustered 219 votes, or 32 percent.

Smoyer, 23, congratulated Brundige on his re-election and thanked supporters.

“Maybe the city wasn’t ready for a student to be elected this time, but if we changed the way some people think about politics, then my efforts were worthwhile,” Smoyer said.

“I hope the next four years are more productive than the last four,” he added.

Meanwhile, Brundige is putting plans in place for his second term.

“I want to thank the ones who supported my being elected to another term,” Brundige said. “It was a well-run campaign.”

Corker edges Ford in Senate race

Despite Tennessee being at the center of national attention ahead of the Nov. 7 election, Bob Corker, R-Chattanooga, edged out Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. for the state’s seat in the U.S. Senate vacated by Bill Frist.

Corker beat Ford by a three-percentage-point margin, winning thanks to heavy turnout in the traditionally Republican East Tennessee. Corker won in Martin, but the Democratic Ford edged Corker in the Trinity precint, 354-320.

Both houses go Democratic

In a referendum on the leadership of President George W. Bush, Democrats picked up six Senate seats, shifting the balance of power toward Democrats and giving them a 51-49 advantage over Republicans.

Democrats regained control of the House even more convincingly, taking 29 seats from the Republicans. Democrats took control of the House for the first time since 1994.

Tennessee voters also soundly re-elected Gov. Phil Bredesen, and compellingly passed a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The measure passed 81-19 percent.