Magnolia voters are going to the polls today to elect a new mayor.
The polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Four candidates: William “Ray” Brown, George”Lucky” Chaplain, James Jones Sr., and Melvin Harris are running to fill the unexpired term of Jim Storer, who was hired earlier this year as city administrator for McComb and resigned as mayor in May.
Chaplain and Harris are city aldermen, and Harris is mayor pro tem. Brown is director of the Pike County Juvenile Drug Court, and Jones is retired and is the pastor of St. Peter Rescue Mission Church in Hazelhurst.
City voters had one last chance Monday night to hear the candidates’ platforms and ask them about issues affecting the city during candidate forum sponsored by the Pike County NAACP.
The candidates discussed the city’s utility bills, economic development, recreation and their plans to improve Magnolia.
Harris outlined his experience as an educator and administrator in the South Pike School District, and his 29 years as an alderman for the city.
“I’ve been trained,” he said. “We are deep, deep in debt and it’s not the time for on-the-job training,” Harris said. “It time to have someone who knows what’s going on in the city.”
Brown discussed his nine-point plan for the city, which included appointing task forces to review the best ways to develop programs for the city.
“We need to show something else other than bouquets and pretty flowers around town,” he said.
Jones promised accountability in the mayor’s office and to get input from the citizens for programs to improve the city.
“My only agenda is to make the City of Magnolia the best small city in the U.S.,” he said, adding that he planned to be a proactive mayor.
Chaplain discussed his background as an executive with Weyerhauser, his experience as alderman at large and his volunteer work in the community.
“I believe I have the skill sets and the desire to be your mayor,” he said. “I want to be your mayor. I’m willing to step forward and take that challenge.”
