Dead Candidate Carl Geary Elected As Tracy City Mayor

Dead Mayor Elected, But Who Will Run The City?

What can be worse than losing an election to a dean man? Well, Tracy City current Mayor Barbara Brock felt it with her own skin. In the town's Mayoral election, Brock lost to her rival Carl Geary 285:85. In addition to the disappointment of losing the election, the only other problem for Brock was that there was no one to concede her defeat to. Carl Geary, 55, ran for Mayor's office, but died of heart attack one month before the vote.

Despite Geary being dead, three times as many residents voted for Geary than his rival Brock. 

Susan Geary, the widow of the late candidate, said she was not surprised after people called in and promised to vote for her late husband anyway.

Geary is remembered as a politician with integrity, but many say the vote was directed against Brock. Being beaten by a dead man has sure sent a clear message to the town's current Council. Ironically, Brock was elected Mayor over a year ago after the incumbent mayor died of a heart attack.

The dilemma for the small Tennessee town of 1,700 people now is how to go about filling the Mayor's seat. Town officials say four councillors will now decide who becomes the Mayor.