Fourteen more people have filed qualifying papers to seek office in this year’s municipal elections, according to information from city and town clerks in Tallahatchie County.
The qualifying window opened on Jan. 4 and closes at 5 p.m. on Feb. 5.
The latest qualifiers include the following:
Charleston
» Incumbent Ward 4 City Commissioner Sandy Frieson Smith, 41, of 432 E. Walnut St., is a Democrat seeking a second term on the city board.
» Jonathan Taylor, 42, of 363 S. Franklin St., is a Democratic hopeful for Ward 4 city commissioner.
» Incumbent Ward 5 City Commissioner Perry Herron, 59, of 230 N. Lafayette St., is a Democrat vying for a fourth term on the Charleston board.
» Incumbent Ward 3 City Commissioner Tawanda Smith Shannon, 46, of 189 Mulberry St., is a Democrat pursuing a second term.
Sumner
» Incumbent Mayor Jackson Webb IV, 44, of 605 N. Walnut St., is seeking election to a second term as the town’s chief executive. He has qualified again as a Republican.
» Incumbent at-large Alderman William W. Boggan, 41, a Republican of 208 Cassidy St., is seeking reelection.
» Incumbent at-large Alderman Jack Flautt III, 48, a Republican of 100 Homestead Lane, is trying for reelection.
» In-cumbent at-large Alderman Pamela M. Fortner, 66, a Republican of 142 Gray St., is seeking reelection.
» Incumbent at-large Alderman Frank Mitchener Jr., 87, a Republican of 300 Cassidy St., is vying for reelection.
» Incumbent at-large Alderman Charles H. Robinette III, 39, a Republican of 290 Jennings St., is asking to be reelected to the Sumner board.
Tutwiler
» Incumbent Mayor Nichole Harris, 42, a Democrat of 291 First St., is seeking election to a third term.
» John “Cheeseburger” Jones, 48, a Democrat of 608 Hopson St., is hoping to supplant Harris as mayor.
» Incumbent Ward 1 Alderwoman Linda Gaither Johnson, 61, a Democrat of 211 West St., is seeking reelection.
» Incumbent Ward 5 Alderwoman Donnie Cox Powell, 62, of 331 Mayflower Circle, is vying for reelection.
— * —
Anyone interested in seeking the offices of mayor or town alderman/city commissioner in Charleston, Glendora, Sumner, Tutwiler or Webb has roughly three weeks to file qualifying papers and pay any required qualifying fees at their respective municipal clerk’s office.
Primary election day for municipal offices is Tuesday, April 6. A primary runoff, if needed, would be April 27. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8.
Those elected in June will begin a new four-year term on July 1.
To seek municipal office as a party candidate, such as Democrat or Republican, a person must submit to the municipal clerk’s office, a “Qualifying Statement of Intent for a Candidate for Party Nomination” and pay a filing fee of $10.
Independent candidates do not have to pay a filing fee, but they must file a “Qualifying Statement of Intent for an Independent Candidate” as well as a petition form bearing the signatures of a prescribed number of registered voters.
Qualifying statements and properly formatted candidate petition forms are available at municipal clerk offices.
These forms, as well as publications such as the “2021 Elections Calendar” and the “2021 Candidate Qualifying Guide,” may be referenced or downloaded at sos.ms.gov/Elections-Voting.
