Tuesday’s Runoff Marks End Of Political Season In Water Valley

The final race in the 2021 political lineup in Water Valley is Tuesday as Ward 2 incumbent Fred Earl White and Fred Folson compete for the Ward Two alderman slot in the Democratic Primary runoff. The precinct, located in the Water Valley courthouse, will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters who did not vote in the first primary on Tuesday, April 6, are still eligible to cast a ballot in the runoff. City hall is open during normal business hours for absentee voting. It will also be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, the deadline to cast an in-person absentee ballot.
All candidates in Coffeeville and Oakland qualified to run as independents and will be on the General Election ballot on Tuesday, June 8.
Eleven candidates qualified 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.
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.
Aldermen in Oakland do not represent wards and run at-large. 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.