Three races go to April 27 runoff

Three races will be decided in a City of Holly Springs Democratic Primary Runoff Tuesday, April 27.

Two others, including the mayor’s race, proceed to the General Election on Tuesday, June 8.

There will be runoffs for alderman in wards 3 and 4, plus the at-large position. The Ward 3 runoff will feature

Colter Teel and Karen M. Pigues. Incumbent Mark Miller did not seek reelection.

In Ward 4, Patricia LeSueur Merriweather and incumbent Christy Owens will meet in the runoff.

For alderman at-large, Dexter Shipp goes against incumbent Tim Liddy.

In the mayor’s race, Sharon D. Gipson defeated incumbent Kelvin Buck by almost 500 votes in last week’s Democratic Primary. She will face independent candidate Ki Jones June 8.

For alderman Ward 2, Goston “Redd” Glover defeated the incumbent, Lennell Lucas, in the closest race on April 6. Glover will go against independent candidate Andre Jones June 8.

Unofficial totals From April 6 Primary Note: All numbers in the election were still unofficial at press-time. For Mayor — Sharon D. Gipson, 1,069; Kelvin Buck, 573. Gipson carried Ward 1 by a 201-72 count; Ward 2, 341120; and Ward 4, 312-157. Buck had 224 votes in Ward 3 to Gipson’s 215.

For Alderman At-Large, Dexter Shipp, 701; Tim Liddy, 583; Marvin M. Bruce, 339. Shipp led in each ward except Ward 3.

For Alderman, Ward 1, Bernita Fountain was unopposed.

For Alderman, Ward 2 — Goston “Redd” Glover, 231; Lennell Lucas, 218.

For Alderman, Ward 3 — Colter Teel, 157; Karen M. Pigues, 108; Terry W. Lawrence, 87; Jim Moore, 61; William C. Thompson, 11; and Erica N. Milan, 9.

For Alderman, Ward 4 — Patricia LeSueur Merriweather, 180; Christy Owens, 165; Demarcus Jones, 96; Eddie Frank LeSure, 22.

Voter turnout was low. Four years ago in the Democratic Primary, 2,110 voted in the mayor’s race. This year around 1,642 voted. That’s a dropoff of 468.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office reported low voter turnout for municipal elections statewide.

Secretary of State Michael Watson said the only statewide issue reported to his office dealt with campaigning too close to precincts. In Mississippi, it is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place unless on private property.

Several complaints also came in regarding a few municipalities requiring voters to perform temperature checks before entering a precinct.

Under the Secretary of State’s administrative rules, “a person wishing to vote shall not be denied entry to the location for failure to wear a face mask or failure to submit to a temperature check upon entry to cast his/her ballot.”

Voters can check with the city clerk’s office in Holly Springs for information on absentee voting for the April 27 runoff. The deadline to vote absentee in the office will be Saturday, April 24, at 12 noon.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. All voting on election day will take place at the Eddie L. Smith Multi-Purpose Center.

Residents of the city who are not yet registered to vote still have time to do so in order to participate in the June 8 General Election. The deadline is May 10. The clerk’s office will be open Saturday, May 8, from 8 a.m. To 12 noon for voter registration for the municipal General Election.