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POLK COUNTY—City of Saluda voters turned out the highest in Polk County during Tuesday’s municipal election, according to figures from the Polk County Board of Election. 

Saluda has 497 registered voters in Polk County and 161 people voted Tuesday for a 32.4 percent turnout, according to Polk County Board of Election Director Cliff Marr. Saluda also has registered voters and votes from Henderson County, which are not included in Polk County’s figures. 

Columbus had the second highest turnout on Tuesday at 24.9 percent. Columbus has 680 registered voters and 169 people turned out for the election. 

Tryon had the lowest voter turnout at 19.3 percent. Tryon has 1,439 registered voters and had 279 people vote in Tuesday’s election. 

On Election Day, Columbus had 101 voters turn out, Saluda had 137 voters turn out and Tryon had 204 voters turn out. The rest of the votes were done by one-stop early voting or by absentee. 

The races in Saluda and Tryon have been called, but Columbus Council had still not been decided by press time. 

In Saluda, two council seats were filled by incumbent Stanley Walker and newcomer Bob Ross. 

In Tryon, incumbent Mayor Alan Peoples retained his seat as well as incumbent commissioners Chrelle Booker and Crys Armbrust retaining their seats. 

Columbus has a new mayor with Patrick McCool winning the uncontested race on Tuesday. There were three open seats for Columbus Town Council members. 

Newcomer Brent Jackson was the high vote getter for a council seat as well as incumbent councilman Mark Phillips. 

Incumbent councilman Richard Hall unofficially won Tuesday night but Steve E. Christopher is only two votes behind and incumbent Margaret Metcalf is three votes behind Hall. There are five provisional votes that will be determined valid or not Friday morning by the Polk County Board of Elections so the third council seat had not been determined as of press time.