In a repeat of their July 2008 special election runoff, Mayor Melvin Harris and Alderman at large George “Lucky” Chaplain face each other again Tuesday in the race for Magnolia mayor.
Harris, a Democrat, defeated Chaplain, a Republican, in the July 22 special election to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Jim Storer, who resigned in March 2008.
Voting will be Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Magnolia Community Center on South Cherry Street.
“The weather is looking good for tomorrow and we’re looking for a good turnout,” Harris said. “That will be the decisive factor.”
Harris said the mayor’s race has been a clean race, adding that he feels good about his chances for re-election.
“In politics, you can’t always predict what’s going to happen, but we have gotten some good responses from individuals, and if everything hold s true, I’m hopeful things will work out our way,” he said.
“I think the election process is going very well,” Chaplain said. “Mr. Harris has run a very clean campaign.”
Chaplain called the final campaigning today and early Tuesday a sprint to the finish line.
“If the public gets out and votes, I expect it to be a very close race,” he said. “(But) no matter what happens (Tuesday), the sun will come up Wednesday morning and Magnolia will be well served.”
The mayor’s race highlights three municipal races on the Tuesday ballot.
In the other races:
• Democratic incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Claude “Cuz” Mullins, an independent, faces a challenge to his re-election from Republican Joe Cornacchione.
• Democrat Clarence D. Burton, a Democrat, faces independents John Mercier and Smithie Buie in the election for alderman at large.
On the ballot
• For mayor, incumbent Melvin Harris faces Alderman at large George “Lucky” Chaplain.
• Ward 3 incumbent Alderman Claude “Cuz” Mullins faces Joe Cornacchione.
• For alderman at large, Democrat Clarence D. Burton faces independent candidates John Mercier and Smithie Buie.
