Decision 2021: What to know ahead of Tuesdayâs runoffs Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Tuesday s runoff. (Source: WDAM) By WDAM Staff | April 26, 2021 at 3:43 PM CDT - Updated April 26 at 4:11 PM
PINE BELT (WDAM) - Voters in a few Pine Belt cities will head to the polls again Tuesday to cast ballots in runoffs to decide party nominations for the June municipal elections.
The April 6 primaries left races in Hattiesburg, Petal and Columbia undecided after no candidates received a majority of the vote.
In Hattiesburg, Vanessa Jones and Lakeylah White will face off for the Democratic nomination for mayor.
The city of Petal will see some new leadership in place July 1 after Tuesday s Republican primary.
Ward 5 Alderman Tony Ducker is likely to take over as the city s new mayor with a narrow 50% of the votes, but with 52 affidavit ballots to be counted, he could appear in the April 27 runoff with Jake Wilson, who is holding 23% of the votes.
Incumbent Mayor Hal Marx announced in fall 2019 he would not seek a fourth term. The former journalist and schoolteacher was first elected in 2009.
Ward 3 Alderman Clint Moore and opponent Blake Nobles could face each other again in the runoff. Only a few votes separated the two candidates before the affidavit ballots are counted.
Petal mayoral race too close to call The race to become Petal’s next mayor could be decided by affidavit ballots. (Source: WDAM) By Chris Thies | April 6, 2021 at 9:29 PM CDT - Updated April 6 at 9:29 PM
PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) - The race to become Petal’s next mayor could be decided by affidavit ballots.
The four candidates who ran in Tuesday’s primary are all Republicans. The winner will not be challenged in the June general election.
After the primary ballots were counted, Tony Ducker led the tally with 814 votes followed by Jake Wilson with 366 votes, Karen Hession with 262 votes and Jared Gould with 173 votes.
Tony Ducker declared mayor-elect of Petal Tony Ducker is in his 11th year of serving as Ward 5 alderman. (Source: City of Petal) By Chris Thies | April 7, 2021 at 3:53 PM CDT - Updated April 7 at 3:53 PM
PETAL, Miss. (WDAM) - There will be no need for a runoff in the Republican primary for Mayor of Petal.
According to City Clerk Melissa Martin and the Petal Election Commission, Tony Ducker has been declared mayor-elect after affidavit ballots were added to Tuesday’s election totals, giving him the 50% plus one vote required to win the nomination outright.
Ducker will not face a Democratic or Independent challenger in the June general election, meaning he will be the next mayor of The Friendly City.