Austin Wagner defeats Andrea Blustein in Smyrna Ward 2 race

Austin Wagner holding sign on Spring RoadAustin Wagner campaigning on Spring Road (photo by Haisten Willis)

According to unofficial results, 29-year-old political consultant Austin Wagner has defeated two-term incumbent Andrea Blustein for the Ward 2 seat on the Smyrna city council.

Wagner initially appeared to win the seat on Nov. 5 by a margin of two votes, but a pair of provisional ballots went to Blustein and evened up the candidates at 341 votes each. They then got another month to make their case to constituents.

This time around voters left no doubt. If unofficial results hold, Wagner collected 391 votes, good for 57.33%, to Blustein’s 284 votes (41.64%). Interestingly, it appears the exact same total number of votes were cast as in the November election (682), only in different amounts to each candidate.

Wagner outraised and outspent Blustein during the campaign, bringing in $4,960 as of Oct. 29. Blustein filed an affidavit in January saying she would not raise or spend more than $2,500. He will take office Jan. 1, 2020, with the term ending Dec. 31, 2023.