On the heels of learning Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman will not run for re-election, Ward 1 Alderman Ben Carver and Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn said they would consider a mayoral campaign if the right conditions emerge.
Wynn, a first-term Democrat, said she will announce her decision on Dec. 1, while Carver, a second-term Republican, said he would throw his hat into the race only if a strong candidate does not emerge during January’s qualification window.
“It all depends on who runs,” Carver said. “My stance from the start has always been that if I think no one running is credible or good for the community, I’ll run. I enjoy community service, and I’m committed to Starkville.”
While Carver is expected to compete for his Ward 1 seat, rumors of a potential Wynn mayoral bid have swirled this fall in anticipation of next year’s municipal race. At a previous board meeting, she committed to running for office but did not specify if she would run for her Ward 2 post or seek the mayor’s position.
Wynn first posted her intention to make an announcement on Facebook on Monday after Wiseman’s decision became public.
“It’s not a decision I’m going to jump into today, but the telephone calls of support for me running have already started coming in,” she said. “(Wiseman) contacted me this morning. We had a nice conversation and laughed about sharing differences. What the public doesn’t see is that behind closed doors, Parker and I have been very cordial. I admire and respect him for the decision to put his family first.”
Wiseman, 36, said he is declining a third election bid in order to spend more time with his wife, Lindsey, and their two children. The Wisemans are expecting a third child this spring.
Numerous residents have been rumored to be interested in running for mayor, but potential candidates have not come forward to The Dispatch and definitively announced their intentions as of press time.
Ward 3 Alderman David Little and Ward 4 Alderman Jason Walker both said they would focus on their upcoming re-election bids instead of running for mayor, while Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard said he has not reconsidered returning to public service after announcing he, too, will not seek another term next year.
Others — including former Aldermen Sumner Davis and Jeremiah Dumas, District 38 Rep. Tyrone Ellis and former District 4 Supervisor candidate Bart Gregory — said they had no interest at this time in running for mayor. Local attorney Johnny Moore and Lynn Spruill, a Dispatch columnist and former Starkville Chief Administrative Officer, did not close the door to a potential run.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.