The colorful array of political signage will soon permeate many of the vacant spaces in Sunflower County and other areas across the state as the 2021 municipal leaders selection process begins.
The filing deadlines for the majority of this year’s political hopefuls ended at 5 p.m., last Friday.
The Democratic Executive Committees and the Election Commissions for each municipality is responsible for officially certifying the candidates in their cities and towns and that process could reportedly be completed sometime this week.
Once that is done and barring any last-minute dropouts, the slate for the April party primaries and subsequent general election is set.
In Ruleville, the cast of campaigners for the mayoral race includes incumbent Shirley Edwards.
Jacqueline Buckner has also submitted documents as a Democratic opponent along with Independent candidate Michael Clark.
For the Ruleville aldermen positions, in Ward 1, incumbent Tommy Boykins has submitted his documents as well as Garland Moody; in Ward 2, Dorothy Jean Robinson and Zacc Turner are vying for that chair.
The Ward 3 race could see incumbent Marvin Hawkins contending against William Kindred and in Ward 4 James Jenkins, Willie Robinson and LaScherrie Wilson have submitted their paperwork along with Independent candidate Tracy R. Turner.
The Alderman-at-Large seat currently held by Billy Marlow Jr., will not go uncontested, Rickey Scott Sr., has filed his intent to challenge the incumbent for that seat.
In the town of Drew, incumbent mayor Harvey Burchfield has two opponents; newcomers Melanie Townsend-Blackmon and Jennie Lewis have also filed papers in that race.
For the Alderman-at-Large spot, Hazel Harris and John Thigpen have both beat the filing deadline. Then, for Alderman Ward 1 position, Ben Alexander is the lone potential candidate; however, in Ward 2 Jerome Shaw and Evie Fountain have submitted their intent.
The Ward 3 position has Tara Coleman, Bre'anna Coleman and Oliver Washington hoping for that position while in Ward 4 Kyree Smith is running unopposed.
In Moorhead, three people have submitted paperwork for the mayoral race.
Incumbent George Holland is running as an Independent, and challenging him is Democratic candidates Kenneth Carpenter and Viola Wraggs.
In Ward 1, incumbent Darrell Wright along with Annette Washington and Sheila Moore have submitted their intent for that race. In Ward 2, Independent Robin Roberts is running unopposed; and in Ward 3 Shericka Walker and George Walker have submitted their intent.
Then, in Ward 4 Tommy “T.J.” Fairley is the only candidate who has filed papers in that ward.
Mayor Desiree Norwood is running unopposed in the town of Sunflower, as is each incumbent for the city's four wards. In Ward 1, incumbent Jaquana Haley is the only one who has reportedly submitted documents for that race, in Ward 2 Marc Box, Ward 3, Betty Miller and Ward 4 Paul Haley.
The Alderman-at-Large seat is the only race that will potentially have an opponent, Betty Brown and Patti Isom-Holeman have both submitted their intent to run.
The Inverness ticket will look very similar to that of Sunflower in that incumbent mayor David Smith is running unopposed as is Ward 1 Alderman Chris Steed, Ward 2 Alderman Thomas Horne III, Ward 3 Alderman Ira Stuckey and Ward 4 Alderman Henry Sibley.
In the Alderman-at-large race, Calvin Lang and Kilpatrick Sibley have both submitted documents.
The party primaries for the municipal offices are set for April 6 and any runoffs as a result will take place on April 27. The date for the general election is June 8.
Sunflower County residents have until March 8 to register to vote in any of the elections and can vote absentee until noon on April 3.
