No foolin’—April 1st is election day for some in Clinton
By Randy Bell
There’ll be no joking around as some of Clinton’s voters attend to serious business on April Fool’s Day. There’s a Republican primary for alderman in Ward 3, with three candidates seeking the seat given up by Robert Chapman, who’s running for Alderman at Large. The voting will take place at the Traceway Park administration building at 200 Soccer Row. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. April 1 is also the postmark deadline for mail-in absentee ballots.
According to City Clerk Jimmy Baldree, there are 3,694 registered voters in Ward 3.
The candidates are Amanda Mills Jones, Lee Logan and Ronnie Morton. If no one receives at least fifty per cent of the vote plus one vote, the top two will meet in a runoff April 22.
The Republican nominee in Ward 3 will face no opposition in the general election June 3.
There are no other contested primaries in Clinton on April 1.
During a candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Jackson Area on March 17, Jones, Logan and Morton attempted to differentiate themselves to win support among the voters.
Jones, who served as Clinton’s director of communications and tourism before becoming the communications director for Continental Tire, said her familiarity with municipal government would serve her well as the Ward 3 alderwoman.
“I have worked alongside the department heads,” she said. “I know them well. I know the inner workings of department heads, the role of the mayor and the role of the aldermen.”
Jones said she looks forward to the opportunity to serve the City in a different role.
“There’s a lot of good here in Clinton, and we can just make it greater.”
Logan, an engineer with Entergy, said he’s had life-long friendships with many department heads and current Board members. And he thinks his background would make him a valuable addition to City government.
“I believe I’m the best candidate for this job, because I can bring a different perspective to the Board that our current Board and past Boards have not had, with an engineering perspective.”
Logan said he’ll fight for Ward 3.
“Everybody feels forgotten out there,” he said. “We were annexed in, and we don’t see the amenities.”
Morton, an elder law attorney, said he’s running for alderman because he’s convinced that this is a critical time for the City.
“I believe Clinton is at a crossroads,” he said. “It’s a city that has been very slow to change.”
Morton has campaigned on the notion that Clinton should pull out of Hinds County and form its own county in an effort to bring about lower tax rates, higher property values and a population boost in the City.
“This election is about the next twenty-five years,” he said. “And if what you want is the status quo, then select a status quo candidate… I am a change candidate.”
The candidate forum can be viewed in its entirety on the City of Clinton’s Facebook page. And the results of the April 1 primary will be posted at TheClintonCourier.net as soon as the vote count is complete.
In the mayor’s race in Clinton, Republican Will Purdie is running unopposed, as are Republican Ward 1 Alderwoman Karen Godfrey and Ward 6 Alderman James Lott, a Democrat. Also, Republican T.J. McSparrin is the only candidate seeking the Ward 2 seat on the Board.
In the general election, Chapman, a Republican, faces Democrat James Warren for Alderman at Large, Republican Ward 4 Alderman Chip Wilbanks is being challenged by Democrat Kevin Anderson, and Ward 5 Alderwoman Beverly Oliver, a Republican, faces Independent Hayden King. Their names won’t appear on a ballot until June 3.
For the general election in June, Ward 3 voters will return to Traceway Park to cast their ballots, while five other polling places will open across the city.
In Ward 1, the voting will take place at the Clinton Visitor Center at 1300 Pinehaven Drive.
The Ward 2 polling place will be at Wildwood Baptist Church, 101 Auburn Drive.
Voters in Ward 4 will go to the Wood Activity Center at 111 Clinton Boulevard.
The Public Works Building at 525 Springridge Road will serve as the Ward 5 polling place.
And, in Ward 6, the voting will be at the Clinton YMCA at 400 Lindale Street.
In March, Mississippi’s Secretary of State penned an opinion column stressing the importance of municipal elections. Michael Watson wrote:
“While the presidential election routinely garners tremendous attention, our local municipal elections are often drastically overlooked despite being just as important.”
“In reality, this year’s municipal elections will have a bigger impact on the daily lives of Mississippians across the state,” continued Watson. “Except for a few special or private charter municipalities, almost all of the approximately three hundred municipalities will select new officials.”
“Upon the completion of the June 3 Municipal General Election, newly-elected municipal officials will take office on July 1t and immediately begin making decisions and enacting regulations affecting municipal roads and bridges, law enforcement and fire protection, and health and sanitation services, just to name a few,” Watson said. “These decisions will not only affect you and your family, but your neighbors and community, as well.”
“So, while electing the country’s next commander in chief is momentous, selecting the right leaders to govern Mississippi’s communities is paramount. The government closest to the people is vitally important. To maintain transparency, accessibility, and efficient and cost-effective local government, citizens must engage in the upcoming municipal elections,” he said.
Watson continued: “The general election voter registration deadline is not until May 5. However, registering to vote and keeping your voter registration updated are only the first steps in preparation for voting. Prior to hitting the polls on election day, all voters should ensure they are an informed voter and know the candidates and platforms for whom or what they are supporting.”
“I encourage each of you to take the time to educate yourself on all roles and responsibilities of each elected position in your municipality, as well as each candidate on the ballot,” Watson said. “More importantly, remember whomever is elected works for you and the citizens in your municipality. Good government comes from holding our elected officials accountable.”
