Man Wins Election Without Campaigning

[directfiesta]

No, not a Bush thread ... ( He did campaign)

Man Wins Election Without Campaigning

November 4, 2004 4:45 p.m. EST



SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Want to get elected to the Springdale City Council? Announce your candidacy and then back out, saying you're too busy to campaign. It worked for Mike Overton, who won Tuesday's election after not spending a dime or giving a speech.

"I didn't have time to do any campaigning and spent no money on campaigning," the Springdale real estate salesman said.

Overton defeated Rex Bailey for the spot. Overton won with 53 percent of the vote to Bailey's 47 percent.

Bailey said he raised more than $12,000 and went on campaigning because he afraid that would happen. He was a gracious loser.

"I ran as hard as I could," Bailey said. "He beat me. I congratulated him."

Overton's name was on the ballots because they were printed after he said in October that he didn't have time to campaign or serve because of his business interests.

But he'll take the job anyway, he said.

"After what I consider to be a mandate, considering the circumstances, I think it's my obligation to serve after the confidence the average citizens have placed with me," Overton said. "I'm humbled and, at the same time, ecstatic over the outcome."

Amazing