[11/12/03]PORT GIBSON Affidavit ballots were being counted today to determine if a runoff will be necessary to nominate the Democratic candidate for mayor in two weeks.

“It looks like I slid in through the back door,” incumbent Mayor Amelda Arnold said late Tuesday after unofficial totals showed her with 352 votes to 263 for businessman Mac Drake and 76 for businessman Kenneth Ross. “The worst-case scenario is I will be in a runoff.”

Arnold’s 50.9 percent could change and force a runoff if she does not retain 50 percent and one vote after the affidavit ballots are counted.

A runoff between the top two vote-getters would be Nov. 25.

The Democratic nominee for mayor will advance with the other primary winners to the general election Dec. 2 to face independents, including former 17-year mayor James Beesley. No Republicans are running for any elected office in the city.

City Clerk Cathi Dodgen said Tuesday night she did not know how many affidavits ballots were to be counted, but she indicated she believes it is likely a runoff would be necessary. She also said election commissioners may throw out some ballots.

Drake said wasn’t ready to give up his chance to become mayor.

“I’m not conceding right now,” Drake said. “Let’s count the votes.”

Arnold smiled, laughed and shook hands with her supporters at City Hall Tuesday night.

Along with businessman Beesley, the Democratic nominee will face independent Robert H. Tinsley, who, like Beesley, lists his occupation as businessman.

In Tuesday voting, Port Gibson residents also rejected a proposition to amend the city’s charter. The amendment would have allowed runoff elections in general elections if no voter received a majority of votes. Voters of any party affiliation could vote for the proposition. The proposition was rejected 389-290.

In the other Democratic primary races, all incumbents advanced into the general election:

Ward 1 incumbent the Rev. Eddie Walls defeated bed and breakfast owner Loren Ouart with 95 votes to 28. Walls has no opponent in the general election.

Ward 3 incumbent Kenneth Ray Davis won 86 votes to Cornelius “Neal” Davis Jr.’s 15 and Renetta W. Howard’s 20. Davis has no opponent in the general election.

In Ward 5, Leslie R. Case, a secretary, defeated Stella Jennings Greenwood, a former chancery clerk. There was no incumbent in the primary. Case will face independents Don Wilson, owner of Claiborne Car Car, and Dalton Williams, owner of Williams Computing, in the general election.

Ward 6 incumbent Rev. Michael A. White, a Democrat, was unopposed in the primary. He has no opposition in the general election.

Two incumbents, Vera Johnson in Ward 2 and Thomas Russum in Ward 4, both independents, face no opposition in the general election and had no Democratic challengers.

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.