Mayfield says joint event with Selmon is not an endorsement

Published 10:04 am Tuesday, April 11, 2017

A flier about an April 22 community gathering at Ken Karyl Park in support of District 3 county Supervisor Charles Selmon, who is running for mayor, and North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield has raised questions if Mayfield is endorsing Selmon’s bid to unseat Mayor George Flaggs Jr.

Mayfield said he’s not backing anybody.

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“I don’t ever endorse anybody,” he said.

“We’re not running on the same ticket,” Selmon said. “Me and Mike are just participants.”

Mayfield said the event is being put on by Martha Thomas, a former classmate of his and Selmon’s.

Thomas said Selmon is a neighbor. “I just wanted to do something in the community for him.”

Mayfield said Thomas called him about the event for Selmon and asked if he wanted to appear.

“I told her I didn’t have any problem; that’s in the heart of my district,” he said.

“It wasn’t something that me and Selmon put together. I don’t think Selmon had anything to do with putting it together. As far as I know, he didn’t. It’s not about endorsing somebody. I didn’t even know she was going to have it. She called me and made me aware, and told me I was more than welcome to come.”

Selmon, Mayfield said, “Has his own race to run, and I have my own race to run. When I run, I run alone, if I win, I win, if I lose, I lose, but I run alone.”

Selmon is one of six candidates running for mayor. He will face Flaggs and Mitchell Dent in the May 2 Democratic primary.

Three other candidates, Willie Robinson, Darryl Hollingsworth and Jennifer Thomas are running as independents.

Mayfield has two opponents for the North Ward, deputy city clerk John Carroll and former Vicksburg police officer Troy Kimble.

Mayfield faces Carroll in the Democratic primary.

Kimble is running as an independent.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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