Two Webster County towns will not have to have municipal elections next month following candidate withdrawals.
The town of Mathiston was to have a general election June 8 because six people were running for the five at-large aldermen seats.
Municipal Clerk Rachel Robinson said last week that Alderman Matthew Carden, who had qualified as a candidate, has withdrawn. This left five candidates for the five aldermen posts, and Mathiston Mayor Jimmy Carden was already unopposed for another term.
The Mathiston Election Commission voted April 23 to dispense with the municipal election as there was only one person that qualified for each seat open: five for aldermen and one for mayor:
Carden — Mayor
Thomas Brooks — Alderman
Jeff Haney — Alderman
Gary Jeffcoats — Alderman
Lavelle McAlpin — Alderman
James “Jim” McMinn — Alderman
Jeffcoats will be a new member of the board as the other aldermen candidates are incumbents,.
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Village of Walthall
The county seat of Walthall was also scheduled to have a municipal election, but for one office only.
Two people were running for marshal of the village: incumbent Casey Henderson and Barry Rushing, who is now an alderman. Municipal Clerk Joyce James said last week that Henderson had withdrawn because he is moving to Oxford. Therefore, Rushing will be the new marshal.
Walthall Mayor Belinda Stewart is unopposed for another term and five people qualified for the five at-large aldermen seats: Krystal Crowell Ballard, who will replace Rushing on the board, plus incumbents Rodney Crowell, Kelly Powell, Linda Stewart and Jeffrey Tabb
Like Mathiston, since only one person has now qualified for each seat open, Walthall has also dispensed with its election.
