HOGANSVILLE — Voters returned one incumbent and elected a new council member Tuesday in addition to one unopposed council candidate.

Post 5 Councilman Thomas Pike was overwhelmingly defeated by challenger Theresa Strickland on Tuesday, who secured 257 votes to Pike’s 65.

“I’m ecstatic, I’m overwhelmed by the support I’ve received by the citizens of Hogansville,” Strickland said this morning. “I’m very grateful, and I commend Councilman Pike for his service for all these years, and I’m looking forward to getting in there in January and to start serving. … I just want to get in, starting learning about the details of the business of the city.”

Pike was unavailable for comment this morning.

Fred Higgins has known since qualifying that he had his bid for Post 3 councilman in the bag. He ran unopposed.

“I’ve got the opportunity to do it,” Higgins said Tuesday night about serving on the City Council. “I’m not excited like I’m going to go out and yell and scream, but I’m glad to have the opportunity to do things for the city.”

Higgins said he has a lot of work ahead of him, but he has served on several government committees and been involved in the goings-on of city government.

“I’m invested in what happens in the city and have been for some time,” he said.

Councilman George Bailey secured his second term Tuesday night with 185 votes, beating out two challengers: Elizabeth Brummett, who received 98 votes, and Ray Jordan, who received 36 votes.

“I’m feeling good about it,” Bailey said in the Troup County Government Center, where the votes were announced Tuesday night. “I thank the citizens of Hogansville and I’m ready to get back and start on my second term. This was a great election, but I didn’t know I would have two people coming in against me.”

Bailey credited people being happy with the work being done in Hogansville for his re-election.

“I’m happy to be back in. I think Mrs. Theresa (Strickland) is going to do a good job, and Mr. Fred Higgins. I’m just ready to go back to work for Hogansville.”