Voting Has Started In City Races
WATER VALLEY – Absentee voting is underway in Water Valley for city races in the April 6 Democratic Primary Election. There are three contested races in the primary after a total of 10 candidates qualified for city positions, all running on the Democratic ticket.
The contested races include the mayor’s election with incumbent Donald Gray and Terry Rocket competing for the city’s top elected position; the bid for Ward One Alderman with political newcomers Lloyd Leland Caulfield and Ron Hart on the ticket; and a three-way race for Ward Two alderman after incumbent Fred Earl White, McKendrick Pawfene Bounds and Freddie Folson qualified.
Other candidates who are unopposed on the ballot include Herbie Rogers for alderman-at-large, Bonnie Cox for Ward Three Alderman and Nicole Folson for Ward Four Alderman.
Voters could cast an absentee ballot in the primary as early on Feb. 22. The deadline to cast an in-person absentee ballot is Saturday, April 3, from 8 to noon in the city clerk’s office.
The city clerk’s offices will also be open Saturday, March 6, from 8 a.m. until noon for voter registration. The deadline to register to vote in the April Primary is Monday, April 8, at 5 p.m.
Coffeeville Races
Eleven candidates qualified for municipal office in Coffeeville, leaving only one unopposed position. In the mayor’s race, incumbent William Shelton, Jr. and Bryan McCullough qualified. For alderman-at-large, incumbent Donald “Duck Hayes and Reginald Nicholson qualified. In Ward One, Rhonda Spearman was the sole qualifier. In Ward Two, incumbent Anthony Matthews and Sonya Murray qualified. In Ward Three, Robert E. Brewer and Marcia Stark qualified. In Ward Four, incumbent Mike Ayers, Sr. and Dewitt Moody qualified.
All candidates in Coffeeville are running as independents and will be on the ballot in the general election on Tuesday, June 8.
Oakland Races
In Oakland, mayoral candidates include incumbent James Riley Swearengen and Terry D. Crowder. Alderman candidates qualifying include incumbents Joe Willie Jenkins, Sr., Sharonda Jones, Terry Ellis, Marzet Bland and George Booker. Other candidates running for aldermen include Stacy McKinley, Stephanie Patterson and Lezelrick Hodges.
All candidates in Oakland are also running as independents and will also be on the ballot in the general election on Tuesday, June 8. Aldermen in Oakland do not represent wards and the top five vote-getters in the field of eight candidates will take office.
The deadline to register to vote in the general elections in Oakland and Coffeeville is Monday, May 10. The city clerk’s offices in Oakland and Coffeeville will also be open on Saturday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to noon for voter registration.
