‘Forward together’ focus of celebration

A street party consisting of friends, the Team Buck re-election committee, and other revelers took to the downtown square Tuesday night, May 16, after Kelvin Buck won re-election to a second four-year term as mayor of Holly Springs.

The party consisted of speeches, music, food and a big cake of congratulations. The mayor did a little celebratory dance for the cheering group of supporters, which numbered about 100.

The new board of aldermen – Tim Liddy, Bernita Fountain-Lowe, Mark Miller, Lennell Lucas and Christy Owens – all shared in the congratulations for successful campaigns, and finally Buck’s win over former mayor Andre DeBerry in a runoff race.

“Thanks to all of you for working hard and getting out the vote,” said Liddy, re-elected as alderman at-large. “We have had a great four years and we hope to have another great four years.”

The party was held beside Court Square Inn in North Market Street.

Rick Raimey, minister of Mighty God Ministries in Victoria, gave thanks for the victory.

“It’s a good day for the City of Holly Springs and its citizens,” said Rep. John Faulkner. “It epitomizes what teamwork will do. The City of Holly Springs is going to be even better going forward.”

David Beckley, finance chairman of Buck’s re-election committee, thanked everyone for their support of the incumbent. And he reminded everyone the city is going to need everyone’s help going forward.

“Thank you for the newly elected council (board of aldermen),” Beckley said. “Please recommit yourself tonight. We will go forward tomorrow.”

Randi Faulkner, Buck’s campaign manager, said she was asked to manage the campaign about two and a half months ago.

“His platform the entire time was moving our city forward together,” she said. “Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you so much for your support. Please continue to help us to move our city forward together. Don’t go home and sit and sleep.”

Buck, with a big smile, relayed a campaign slogan phrased by Sheila Ingram – “Vote Right, So We Can Sleep Tonight.”

He said the campaign committee was just one piece of the puzzle.

“The campaign group worked very hard,” said Buck, adding there was a lot of ways people helped out, including texting and calling friends to ask them to vote.

“You were all a part of the team,” Buck said.

He thanked those who contributed to the campaign and said he could not run the campaign by himself.

“If we can stand together, we can come out the winner,” Buck said. “We have a team that I think is going to be unstoppable.

“As hard as this election was, the work has just begun.”

Buck said the city’s Teamup to Cleanup campaign was a big part of his first four years and it should continue to be a priority.

A clean city is more inviting for outside businesses that may want to move here, he said. And more new business means more good jobs.

Buck promised to lay out more of his plan for the city in the next term during his inauguration.