Residents of Port Gibson at polls for primaries today
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 11, 2003
[11/11/03]Port Gibson residents are at the polls today to vote in four Democratic primary races and on a proposition to amend the city’s charter.
Monday, Mayor Amelda Arnold was adamant that people go to the polls and support their candidates, citing confusion over a last-minute lawsuit that sought, but failed, to call off today’s voting.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. However, if people are in line to vote at 7 p.m. they will be allowed to cast ballots.
“I need folks to make sure they go out and vote,” said Arnold, a one-term incumbent who faces opposition in the primary.
Five plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege it is illegal for the town’s election to go forward since redistricting has not taken place. All political entities are constitutionally required to adjust district lines to reflect changes after each federal census.
Port Gibson City Attorney Melvin McFatter said the lawsuit included a motion to suspend city elections, but the motion was denied in federal court Monday.
Arnold said the redistricting will happen, but after the election. “We don’t have a problem with redistricting if that’s what we need,” Arnold said. “It’s been out of whack since the 1990s.” The 2000 census says Port Gibson, about 30 miles south of Vicksburg, has 1,840 residents.
Today’s nominees will advance to the Dec. 2 general election to face independents. No Republicans are running for any elected office in the city.
The proposition to amend the city’s charter will allow voters to decide on adding runoff elections whenever no candidate receives a majority of the votes. If the proposition passes, it will be subjected to U.S. Department of Justice approval, McFatter said.
Arnold faces businessmen Mac Drake and Kenneth Ross in the primary. The Democratic nominee will face independents James Beesley, a former mayor, and Robert H. Tinsley, both businessmen, in the general election.
In the alderman primary races, Ward 1 incumbent the Rev. Eddie Walls Jr. faces bed and breakfast owner Loren Ouart. The winner faces no opponent in the general election.
Incumbent Kenneth Ray Davis faces Cornelius “Neal” Davis Jr. and Renetta W. Howard in Ward 3. The nominee will have no opposition in the general election.
Leslie R. Case, a secretary, and Stella Jennings Greenwood, a former chancery clerk, are the Democrats running in the District 5 primary. The winner will face independents Don Wilson, owner of Claiborne Car Care, and Dalton Williams, owner of Williams Computing, in the general election.
Ward 2 incumbent Vera Johnson, a cashier at a service station, faces no opposition in the general election. She is an independent.
Ward 4 incumbent Thomas Russum, an independent, is unopposed in the general election. Also, Ward 6 incumbent the Rev. Michael A. White, a Democrat, is unopposed in the primary and in the general election.
All elected positions are for four-year terms. The mayor is paid $30,000 a year for the part-time job. Aldermen are each paid $7,200 annually.