Clinton prepares for City elections

By Randy Bell

Special to The Clinton Courier
Will Purdie, who is running unopposed, will be the next mayor of Clinton. New municipal positions will take office this summer.

After Phil, it’ll be Will. City Attorney Will Purdie is set to become Clinton’s next mayor this summer after he was the only candidate to qualify for the race to succeed Phil Fisher, who decided not to run for re-election as mayor. In a press release issued February 3, the Republican said he’ll have “a clear mandate to lead the city into its next chapter of growth and development,” and is “honored by the trust and confidence of the people of Clinton.”

Also running unopposed are two current members of the Board of Aldermen: Ward 1’s Karen Godfrey, a Republican, and Ward 6’s James Lott, a Democrat. Also, Republican T.J. McSparrin is the only candidate who qualified to run in Ward 2, where Alderman Jim Martin isn’t seeking another term.

Running without opposition for the Republican nominations are Ward 3 Alderman Robert Chapman (who’s seeking the Alderman at Large position, which Ricki Garrett is giving up), Ward 4’s Chip Wilbanks and Ward 5’s Beverly Oliver. Each will be challenged in the June 3 general election – with Democrat James Warren running for Alderman at Large, Democrat Kevin Anderson seeking the Ward 4 seat and Independent Hayden King running in Ward 5. Warren and Anderson face no opposition for the Democratic nominations.

The only contested primary will be in Ward 3, where three Republicans are vying to replace Chapman. Amanda Jones, Lee Logan and Ronnie Morton will face off on April 1 with a runoff April 22 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote. Ward 3 voters will cast their ballots at the Traceway Park administration building at 200 Soccer Row for the primary, the runoff (if needed) and the general election.

On June 3, the City will open five more polling places: the Clinton Visitor Center at 1300 Pinehaven Drive for Ward 1, Wildwood Baptist Church at 101 Auburn Drive for Ward 2, Wood Activity Center, 111 Clinton Boulevard for Ward 4, the Public Works Building at 525 Springridge Road for Ward 5 and the Clinton YMCA at 400 Lindale Street for Ward 6.
With one exception, the voting locations are the same as in Clinton’s last municipal elections. City Clerk Jimmy Baldree says the Ward 1 polling place was moved from Fire Station 3 because, after the City’s recent redistricting, the Visitor Center is now located in Ward 1.

“It’s a little easier access,” Baldree says, “and it won’t be blocking up one of the fire stations.”