Marc GravittTwo years after coming up short in the race for East Ridge’s City Council and being passed over for a council appointment, businessman Marc Gravitt nabbed one of the city’s two available council seats after a nail-biter finish against the widow of a longtime East Ridge mayor.
“I feel like it’s a vindication,” Gravitt, 45, said while celebrating in the East Ridge Best Western with supporters. “I breathed a big sigh of relief when I saw that final number.”
Eight-year incumbent Denny Manning took the lead in the council race, gaining 26 percent of the vote. Gravitt followed with 24.8 percent, and Ann Pruett finished with about 23 percent. The rest of the East Ridge votes were split among Mimi Lowrey, Patricia Cassidy, Scooter King and John Clemmer.
Manning, who has aligned himself with Gravitt in his campaign, said the race was especially hard because it was so crowded.
“This was about four times harder than any other I’ve been in,” the 67-year-old Manning said. “I appreciate the people having faith in me again. … I’m not just thankful with my head, but with my heart.”