Democrat hopefuls make final push

Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 3, 2009

Some voters said Saturday that familiarity with the candidates will tip the scales as much as the issues in the four-person race for the Democratic nomination for mayor of the City of Vicksburg.

Ronald Queen knows Paul Winfield from his days as a coach at Vicksburg Middle School.

“He’s certified and qualified,” Queen said. “I think he’ll make an excellent mayor. He’s concerned about people.”

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Former police officer and constable Rudolph Walker, another self-described longtime pal of Winfield’s, said the attorney’s “tremendous people skills” will serve well if the local attorney and state party treasurer is elected.

“He’s not just for a particular group of people but for everybody,” said Walker, one of about 40 who gathered for a fish fry and campaign visibility event Saturday.

Winfield, 35, is one of four vying for the party’s nod, which will be ticket to a one-on-one race June 2 against Mayor Laurence Leyens, an independent. While Winfield is making his first bid for public office, candidates John Shorter, 42, and Gertrude Anderson Young, 53, will have their sixth election under their belt once primary votes are counted.

“I’ve known everything about him,” B.J. Friley said of Shorter, a coordinator for a California-based defense contractor, as the candidate canvassed south Vicksburg in hopes of improving on a third place finish in the mayoral primary in 2005. “He’s already got my vote.”

Farther up the block, Greg Haggard plans to remain loyal to Young, alderman for the city’s North Ward for eight years before losing to Michael Mayfield in primary voting four years ago.

“If she loses, I’ll support Shorter,” Haggard said.

A fourth candidate, convenience store owner Tommy Wright, 39, has campaigned with yard signs and a Web site but declined to appear at a pair of privately-sponsored forums since qualifying ended.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield and South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman are unopposed for the primary.

Vicksburg voter rolls stood at 18,809 voters, according to the most recent figures available from the city clerk’s office. In 2005, the rolls showed 18,380 voters.

The mayor’s post pays $77,000 annually, while the aldermen are paid $61,600. Raises to take effect in 2010 and 2011 will lift the mayor’s pay to $80,850 and the aldermen’s pay to $64,680.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday shows dissipating rain and mostly sunny with a high temperature of 85 degrees.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com