Voters in Columbus, Starkville and West Point will head to the polls for municipal election party primaries today.
In Columbus, Mayor Robert Smith will face Democratic challengers Selvain McQueen and Carl Lee, the winner of which will run against independent challenger Montrell Coburn in the June 6 general election.
On the council positions side, Ward 2 incumbent Joseph Mickens faces Democratic challengers Troy Miller and Eric Thomas, while Ward 4 incumbent Democrat Marty Turner faces three challengers in Frederick Jackson, Peirre Beard and Lavonne Latham-Harris.
Any of these races could result in a runoff to be held May 16.
Democratic candidates in Wards 5 and 6 will definitely be decided Tuesday, with Ward 5 incumbent Stephen Jones facing only one challenger in Gary Jefferson, while Democratic challengers Whirllie Byrd and Andre Roberts in Ward 6 will face off. In Ward 5, the Democratic winner will run against Republican challenger Mark Ward, and the Ward 6 winner will face Republican incumbent Bill Gavin in the general election.
Starkville
Meanwhile in Starkville, Democratic challengers Johnny Moore, Damion Poe and Lynn Spruill face off for the mayoral seat. If one candidate gets 50 percent plus one vote, he or she will become Starkville’s new mayor. Otherwise, the top two from today’s primary will advance to a May 16 run-off.
In Ward 1, incumbent Alderman Ben Carver and Republican challenger Jason Camp will meet in a primary. The winner of that race will face Democratic challenger Christine Williams in June.
A Ward 5 primary between Democrats Kayla Gilmore and Patrick Miller will determine who replaces Scott Maynard on the board, after the one-term alderman decided not to seek-re-election.
In Ward 7, the Democratic primary between incumbent Henry Vaughn and Margaret Anne Moore will determine who faces Republican Roben W. Dawkins in June.
West Point
Nothing but Democrats are running in West Point, where a race between incumbent Mayor Robbie Roberson and Homer Ryland Jr. highlight the primaries.
In selectman races, Jimmy Davidson and Leta L. Hannah will try to unseat incumbent Linda Hannah in Ward 1; incumbent Jimmy Clark will face Ken Poole in Ward 3; and incumbent Gary Dedeaux will try to fend off challengers LaTrenda Fenton and Jasper Pittman in Ward 5.
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