Four Commit To Run For Alderman Slot

By David Howell

Editor

WATER VALLEY – The deadline to qualify to run in the special election for alderman-at-large is a week away and the candidate list has increased to four after two more candidates, Terry Rockette and Robert Walker, Jr., announced they would run.  Taylor Trusty and Herbie Rogers previously confirmed they will also qualify for the special election scheduled Feb. 27. 

Candidates must file a petition with the city clerk by 5 p.m. by Feb. 7 in order to qualify for the special, non-partisan election.  The petition must be signed by a minimum of 50 qualified electors, or registered voters living inside the city limits. There is no qualifying fee to run in the special election. 

The alderman-at-large seat was vacated on January 18 after Donald Gray was seated as mayor after he won a special election for the city’s top elected position. Gray started his third term as alderman-at-large last July and was among four candidates who competed in the special election after long-time Mayor Larry Hart stepped down four months into his sixth term.  

Aldermen set the election date in a special meeting last month and also set March 20 as the date for a runoff election if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the Feb. 27 election.