Long-time Great Bend City Council member Dana Dawson will return to City Hall.
Dawson, owner of Dawson Jewelers/Designs by Dana, served on the council for 14 years, representing Ward 4. He recently moved to Ward 3 and took a one-year hiatus before deciding to run again.
He takes the place of Cory Zimmerman who did not seen another term. He will join fellow Third Ward Councilman Cory Urban.
Dawson garnered 791 votes for 72.5 percent. Davis earned 295 votes for 27.04 percent.
The vote totals reported as of Tuesday night are merely preliminary. The votes will be finalized when the Barton County Commission, meeting as the Board of Canvassers, canvasses the ballots come Tuesday morning.
“During my past tenure, I did my best to fight hard for the citizens of Great Bend including pushing for better pay for city workers, a more transparent government and always speaking up for what’s right,” he said in a statement sent to the Great Bend Tribune. “This did not come without opposition from the past administration. I will always speak my mind – sometimes, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.
“I am now ready to renew my efforts to do what’s right for the City of Great Bend and our citizens,” he said. “With a new council, mayor and administrator, I truly believe we can make Great Bend great.”
He is a third-generation lifetime citizen of Great Bend. “Needless to say, I have a sincere hope and vision for a positive future.”
Davis works as a bus driver and grounds keeper for Unified School District 428. A Great Bend native who moved away from the community, he recently returned to be closer to family.
“I thought it would be something different,” he said of why he cast his hat into the ring. “I thought we needed some new blood.”
Looking to the future, “I’ll be back,” he said. “I’ll try it again.”
As for what he wanted to accomplish, he said he had a simple vision. “I just wanted to be a neutral voice for city and employees, and the same for the citzens.”
Dawson will be sworn in and take office in January.
