Chief of police remains only unopposed candidate in NA elections

The City of New Albany has ended up with 22 people seeking the city’s seven elective offices.

The last person to qualify was Jim Gann, running as a Republican for Ward Two alderman.

One change was also made concerning another candidate. Jessica Winston had qualified to run for Ward Two alderman as a Democrat but it was determined later that she actually lives in Ward One. Her residence is at Union Apartments and that complex is split with one part in Ward One and the other in Ward Two.

Incumbent Chief of Police Chris Robertson is the only candidate without an opponent.

Primary elections will be April 6 and the general election will be June 8.

The Democratic nominees will be decided without a runoff, but runoffs are possible in the Republican races for Ward One, Ward Two and Ward Four aldermen. That’s because a candidate has to receive more than 50 percent of the vote in a primary to avoid a runoff. With three candidates and no incumbent, it is more likely no one person will receive 40 percent.

The contests for mayor, alderman-at-large Ward One alderman and Ward Two alderman will not be decided until the June 8 general election because candidates from multiple parties are involved.

The Ward One and Ward Two aldermen’s races have the most candidates, which was expected. That’s because the incumbents, Amy Livingston and Johnny Anderson, chose not to run again. This left those two offices open and essentially up in the air.

Because the April 8 vote will involve political party primaries, a voter will have to choose which party he or she wants to vote in: either Democrat or Republican. If a person votes in the primary, he or she will have to vote in the same party’s runoff, if there is one. Crossover voting in primaries is not legal in Mississippi.

When the general election occurs, there will be a mix of Democratic, Republican and Independent candidates and one may voter for any combination.

Election officials hope the two open offices plus having multiple candidates will help voter turnout. On the other hand, only a few races will be really determined in either the primary or general election. Four years ago the turnout was only about 22 percent.

Those elected in June will take office July 1.

Below are the names that will be on the primary ballots:

Democratic Primary Ballot

Mayor

James Dean

 Chief of Police

None

Alderman-at-large

None

Ward One Alderman

Jessica Winston

 Ward Two Alderman

Gary Edwards

Tim Johnson

Ward Three Alderman

Penney Blissett

Kevin Dale White (i)

Ward Four Alderman

None

Republican Primary Ballot

Mayor

Chuck Garrett

Tim Kent (i)

Chief of Police

Chris Robertson (i)

Alderman-at-large

Keith Conlee (i)

Jeff Knox

Ward One Alderman

Mark Bishop

Judith Bennett Foley

William Ashley Kidd

Ward Two Alderman

Jim Gann

Adam Hardy

David Drew Horn

 Ward Three Alderman

None

 Ward Four Alderman

Diane Jones

Ronnie Parker

Will Tucker (i)