Hawkins-Butler, McGee unopposed in mayoral races

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler and Ridgeland Mayor Gene F. McGee both will each serve another term in their respective seats after Friday’s municipal election qualifying deadline passed without anyone filing to run against them.

Hawkins-Butler is seeking her 11th consecutive term and McGee’s is seeking his ninth.

Also, all incumbents in the city of Flora are running unopposed as independents and therefore will serve another term.

Municipal primaries will be held April 6 with any necessary runoffs on April 27 and the general election will be held on June 8.

Below is a list of candidates who have filed to run for municipal offices in Madison County municipalities as of Wednesday morning.

Madison 

All candidates who filed to run for municipal offices in the city of Madison are Republicans with the exception of Democrat Janice Jackson who is running against incumbent Alderman-at-Large Sandra Strain, a Republican.

Mayor: Mary Hawkins-Butler; Alderman-at-Large: Janice Jackson, Sandra Strain; Ward 1: Tawanna Tatum, Ward 2: Pat Peeler; Ward 3: Janie Jarvis; Ward 4: Paul Tankersley; Ward 5: Michael L. Hudgins; Ward 6: Guy Bowering.

Ridgeland

After last Friday’s filling deadline passed, city Clerk Paula Tierce said that two races in town will have Republican and Democrat contenders as the remaining races go unopposed. 

Ward 2 Alderman Incumbent and Republican Candidate Chuck Gautier picked up Democrat challenger Walter Young Jr., in his race.

Two candidates have qualified for the Alderman-at-large race in incumbent D.I. Smith, a Republican, and Poteat Medley on the democratic ticket, according to City Clerk Paula Tierce.

Mayor Gene F. McGee and all current aldermen have qualified Republican. The other incumbents are Ken Heard for Ward 1, Kevin Holder for Ward 3, Brian Ramsey for Ward 4, Bill Lee for Ward 5 and Wesley Hamlin in Ward 6.

Canton

For Mayor: Republican challenger Charles Chip Matthews is running against incumbent Democrat William Truly Jr. M.D Mayor.

All other candidates in Canton are running as Democrats. For Ward 1: Rodriquez Brown, Colby Walker; Ward 2: Fred Esco Jr.,  Renee Truss; Ward 3: Les Penn, Angie Levy-Ware; Ward 4: Markee Blount, Jonathan DIxon, Danny T. Louis, Daphne Sims; Ward 5: Tim C. Taylor, John E. Brown; Ward 6: Monica Johnson Gilkey, Cleotha Williams; Ward 7: Dante’ L. Ollie, Lafayette E. Wales.

Flora

All incumbents in Flora have registered for the upcoming election. City Clerk April Dunlap said all races are unopposed, and all city officials in Flora run as independents. 

Incumbents who will serve another term in their respective offices are Mayor Les Childress, Ward 1 Alderman Michael Westbrook, Ward 2 Alderman Kenny Jenkins, Ward 3 Alderman Mary Sumler, Ward 4 Alderman Ray Allard and Alderman-at-large A.J. Lunsford.