Rockmart voters passed an alcohol referendum Tuesday by 93 votes. The final tally was 232 "yes" votes, to 139 "no" votes, meaning area restaurants will soon have the option of selling distilled spirits by the drink.

Relatively few Rockmart voters headed to the polls. Only 371 votes were cast out of 1,763 registered voters — for a voter turnout of about 21 percent. Rockmart’s municipal election also confirmed the re-election of three incumbent city council members who were unopposed.

In the alcohol referendum, voters were presented a proposed ordinance that would allow restaurants to hold pouring licenses. Voters were asked to answer "yes" or "no" whether "governing authority of the City of Rockmart be authorized to issue licenses to sell distilled spirits for beverage purposes by the drink, such sales to be for consumption only on the premises?"

Passage of the ordinance should also allow the sale of beer and wine at local restaurants. Further action by the Rockmart City Council will be necessary to enact an ordinance, based on the outcome of the referendum result.

The initial ballot returns put the vote at 194 "yes" votes and 137 "no" votes. The 34 advance and absentee ballots were then added in, and these clinched the referendum’s passage.

For many voters, the alcohol ordinance was the only item on the ballots. City voters residing in three wards could also vote for their incumbent councilman. Running unopposed for re-election were Steve Miller, Ward 1; Bob Culver, Ward 3; and Bruce Bell, Ward 4.

Total vote tallies for these unopposed races were not immediately available.

Aragon election The City of Aragon also held a municipal election Tuesday.

Aragon’s council members are elected at large. Candidates Beverly Clinton, W. Earl Deaton and Patricia Streetman Jackson ran for two open seats.

W. Earl Deaton won a seat with 67 votes (37 percent)and incumbent Beverly Clinton will return to her position with 61 votes (33 percent). Incumbent Patricia Jackson garnered 53 votes and so will not return to office.

Aragon voters also voted in a special election to fill a post left vacant by the recent resignation of council member Tim Gates.

Curtis Burrus and Billy E. Weaver won the seat with 66 votes (59 percent). His opponent, Curtis Burrus, tallied 47 votes (40.5 percent).

The 178 votes cast in Aragon’s election amounted to about 37.5 percent of the communty’s 459 registered voters.