MINERAL SPRINGS -- Another election season has passed, and the faces on the Mineral Springs Town Council will remain the same.

Incumbents Melody LaMonica, Janet Critz and Jerry Countryman retained their seats against Charles Bowden, each nearly tripling the challenger’s total of 74 votes.

Countryman received 219, and Critz and LaMonica both got 215.

“I was very pleased with the results. It gives us an opportunity to continue with what we’re set out to do in terms of doing what the public would like us to do,” Countryman said.

Despite much talk about candidate forums, all four candidates never attended a candidate forum together. Bowden said he refused to attend a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters at Western Union Elementary School because he thought it was biased. Ultimately he attended the Oct. 20 forum, but he arrived late and only took pictures.

In a letter to all candidates Sept. 26, Bowden suggested an independent forum on Oct. 8 at the Mineral Springs Music Barn. But Critz at the time pointed out that the forum was scheduled for the same night as a Town Council meeting, making it impossible for them to attend.

Critz said she thought Tuesday’s turnout was mostly about the public showing the council its support.

“I think it’s rewarding that ... percentage wise, with nothing else on the ballot, that this many people would actually come out to vote to say, ‘Hey, we want you there, and we appreciate what you’re doing.’”