Gluckstadt aldermen elected to first full term

Only Ridgeland and Canton had contested races in Tuesday’s municipal elections.

Four of the county’s five mayors ran unopposed for re-election. Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler, Ridgeland Mayor Gene F. McGee, Gluckstadt Mayor Walter C. Morrison IV, and Flora Mayor Les Childress were all re-elected.

Canton’s incumbent mayor, Dr. William Truly, did not seek re-election.

Here’s a breakdown of Tuesday’s contested races by municipality:

GLUCKSTADT

Gluckstadt completed its first municipal election on Tuesday.

Three incumbents, Democrat Miya Warfield Bates and Republicans Jayce Powell and John Taylor, reclaimed their alderman seats. Unofficial results show Powell leading with 260 votes, followed by Taylor with 247 votes and Bates with 246.

Two newcomers, Republicans Jessie Campbell and Chip Williams, secured the other available at-large seats.

Campbell received 250 votes, the second-highest in the race, while Williams garnered 248 votes.

Republican candidate Samuel Stonestreet received 239 votes, falling short of triggering a runoff.

City Clerk Lindsay Kellum praised her staff and election officials for their work. “We look forward to working with our new leadership to continue to accomplish our goals as a city,” Kellum said. 

RIDGELAND

In Ridgeland, contested races were held for Ward 2 and Ward 3.

Incumbent Republican Ward 2 Alderman Chuck Gautier defeated Democrat challenger Walter Young Jr. with 67.2% of the vote, according to complete but unofficial totals. 

Gautier received 504 votes to Young’s 244. Two write-in votes were also cast.

Incumbent Republican Ward 3 Alderman Kevin Holder won against Democrat challenger Howard Brown, securing 79.08% of the vote. Holder received 223 votes, while Brown received 58. 

CANTON

With the exception of the mayoral and Ward 3 races, Canton’s contests were decided in the party primaries.

Sitting Ward 5 Alderman Tim Taylor, a Democrat, won the mayoral race with 81.9% of the vote based on complete but unofficial returns. He defeated Republican Chip Matthews and Independent Walter Peeples. Taylor received 1,593 votes, while Peeples garnered 224 votes and Matthews 127.

In the Ward 3 race, incumbent Les A. Penn defeated challenger My’Angel Brim with 77% of the vote. 

MADISON

All incumbent officials in the city of Madison faced no opposition and were re-elected.

FLORA

In Flora’s Ward 1, Jeff Rankin narrowly defeated Candy Mills by two votes, with Rankin receiving 46 votes to Mills’ 44.

Sheila Blakely won the Ward 4 seat with 38 votes, ahead of Sinclair Coleman’s 31 votes.

Newcomer Jimmie Lee Jones secured the Ward 3 seat with 15 votes, running unopposed. All other positions in Flora were won by unopposed incumbent candidates.