Hinds County deputy and former Vicksburg canine officer Mark Morgan is the new mayor of Utica.

Morgan, 47, defeated incumbent mayor Jesse Killingsworth Tuesday, receiving 150 votes, or 56 percent, to Killingsworth’s 118 votes, 44 percent. Morgan will take office July 6.

It was the second election battle between Morgan and Killingsworth. In March 2008 Killingsworth defeated Morgan in a run-off election to take office after former Utica mayor Charles Stokes was elected Hinds County tax assessor. Killingsworth and Morgan had been the top vote-getters in an initial five-man race.

“I want to get the town back on track,” Morgan said. “It’s a great little town with good people. I want to get some business back in here.”

Morgan is married with two children, ages 2 and 6 months. He said he will continue working with the sheriff’s department, as the mayor’s job is part-time.

Killingsworth, 62, also serves as dean of career and technical education at Hinds Community College.

In other balloting, five aldermen will be sworn in after running unopposed. Elected were Earl Mathes, ward one; Mary Ann Keith, ward two; Kenneth Frazier, ward three; Kenneth Broome, ward four; and Doris Ross, at-large

A spokesman from the Utica city clerk’s office said the percentage of registered voters casting ballots Tuesday was not yet known.

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Contact Pam Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com