Former Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk will face incumbent Lisa Wynn in May’s Democratic Primary as she intends to qualify for this year’s municipal election cycle.
Sistrunk, who represented Ward 2 from 2009-13, lost her seat in a runoff after first tying with Wynn in the 2013 Democratic Primary.
“This election is about the future,” Sistrunk said. “It’s about what I can do to help Starkville be a place people want to live and start businesses, and I want to use my skills and abilities to make those things a reality.”
Sistrunk, 66, has accountant certifications and worked for years with companies within the health care industry. She and her husband, Wayne, have lived in Starkville for about 17 years.
As an alderman, Sistrunk chaired the Budget and Audit Committee, which is responsible for setting the municipal budget and tax rate. Under her tenure, she said, taxes only went up one-half of a mill. The current board has raised taxes about 5 mills since taking office in 2013.
If elected, Sistrunk said her prior experience will allow her to work with fellow board members in an effort to better Starkville.
“I want to ensure Starkville has a sound financial path forward. I understand how city finances not only impact services and infrastructure for residents, but also how finances impact how we grow our community in terms of new businesses locating here and how we maintain good partnerships with our existing business community,” she said. “I can work to keep taxes low while we go about providing services, infrastructure and those good partnerships – all the things residents want that will build a stronger future.”
Sistrunk has worked part-time as the accountant and payroll manager for Spruill Property Management under the supervision of owner/general manager Lynn Spruill, who has announced she will run as a Democrat for mayor in 2017.
This morning, Sistrunk told The Dispatch she did not see a conflict with continuing her employment with Spruill during the campaign. However, she said she would definitely resign if she is elected and would recuse from votes whenever necessary.
“Although there would never be a conflict, I don’t want there to even appear to be a conflict,” Sistrunk said. “This is too important.”
She said she has not yet determined what she will do about her employment if she loses and Spruill wins.
Qualification begins Tuesday
Tuesday marks the start of qualifying for Starkville’s municipal candidates.
Six of the seven incumbents sitting on the board of aldermen – Wynn, Ward 1’s Ben Carver, Ward 3’s David Little, Ward 4’s Jason Walker, Ward 6’s Roy A. Perkins and Ward 7’s Henry Vaughn – have announced their intentions to seek re-election.
Carver is expected to have an opponent in May’s Republican Primary after Starkville Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jason Camp said he would seek the GOP’s nomination.
Camp will be joined on this year’s campaign trail by fellow SPZ Commissioner and Mississippi State University Extension Center for Government and Community Development instructor Patrick Miller, who announced his intent to run as a Democrat for Ward 5’s open seat.
Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard, a Republican, announced last year he will not seek a second term. Additionally, Mayor Parker Wiseman, a Democrat, said he would step away from his elected position this June and not seek a third term.
Former City Chief Administrative Officer Spruill and local attorney Johnny Moore have promised mayoral bids this year and are expected to soon qualify for the race.
It is not yet known if they will compete in May’s Democratic Primary or June’s General Election.
Spruill, 64, who served as the mayor of Addison, Texas, from 1988-93, declared her intent to run as a Democrat last month. Moore, 56, did not say under which party’s umbrella he would run while announcing his intent earlier in the same month.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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