Closely Contested Mayoral Races Seen Across the State

Voters go to the polls today to elect new mayors and councilmen all across the state. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports how some of those races are shaping up.

“How y’all doing, I’ve got somebody that’s going to put the boxes in your car.”

Election officials are putting sealed ballot boxes into the back of a precinct captain's car in Gulfport. That was a scene around the state yesterday in preparation for today’s municipal elections. Voters will take to the polls today to elect new mayors and councilmen all across the state. It’s these elections which can mean the most to citizens says George Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Municipal League,

“Those are the officials that are closest to the people. The officials that they can talk to, and make a tremendous difference at the local level.”

There are several closely contested mayoral races that will be decided today, in cities like Tupelo, Gulfport, and Meridian which will make history today by either electing the city's first female mayor, or African American mayor. In Jackson, former mayor democrat Harvey Johnson will face one republican and four independents. Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute at Mississippi State, says one of the most important things a voter should be considering when making their choice is how that leader is going to position the town to play a role in the global economy,

“In a state like Mississippi with so many small towns what best positions the city to be out there in the mix, because if they don’t they’ll be left behind and may never catch up.”

Polls will be open until 7pm. The four year municipal term begins on July 6th.