McComb elected its new mayor and selectman at large by sizable margins in Monday’s general election, and Ward 5 chose its new representative in a landslide.
Republican Whitney Raw-lings will succeed incumbent Mayor Zach Patterson. Rawlings won with 1,322 votes (59.4 percent) to Democrat Warren Ellis Gilmore’s 888 (40 percent).
“I was proud of the fact people from all across the city joined with me in this race and I had votes from all across the city,” a jubilant, albeit tired, Rawlings said. “We’re not driving this car in the rear-view mirror. We’re going forward. That’s what everybody wants.”
Rawlings and Gilmore were the only two candidates to run for the position. Patterson, a Democrat who became the city’s first black mayor four years ago, did not seek re-election after serving one term in office.
In defeat, Gilmore was complimentary of the mayor-elect and encouraged the entire city to give Rawlings a chance.
“Whitney’s my friend, and now he’s my mayor,” Gilmore said. “I want everyone — black and white — to give Whitney Rawlings a chance. He made a commitment to heal this town, same as I did, and I’m going to hold him to it.”
Ward 1 — the McComb National Guard Armory— put Rawlings over the top. He picked up 696 of the precinct’s 760 votes (91.6 percent).
The mayoral candidates were equally complimentary of the campaigns each ran.
“We both ran good races,” Rawlings said. “(Gilmore) made me work harder, which is a good thing. Money doesn’t win it. It’s people. I’m very thankful for the people that helped me win this election.”
In the selectman at large race, Republican Tommy McKenzie got 1,240 votes (56.2 percent) to defeat Democrat John Johnson, who had 962 (43.6 percent).
“I’m excited that for the future of McComb, we have six of seven elected officials who will all be new,” McKenzie said. “I think it’s a very encouraging and exciting thing for McComb. I hope all the citizens take some ownership for the future of this city and look to the board for leadership to guide them.”
Ward 1 again proved the difference in the race, as McKenzie picked up 669 votes (89.2 percent) — more than half his total — to Johnson’s 80 (10.7 percent).
“That’s where our focus was, to make sure those people got out and voted,” McKenzie said of his campaign in Ward 1. “That’s where most of the effort was put, to get those people out to vote. The wonderful thing about this is, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are. Every vote counts the same.”
In defeat, Johnson was thankful for his supporters and offered his own support to McKenzie and the rest of the board. And he said he will return to the political scene in the future.
“Through the grace of God, I live another day to fight, and my race has only begun,” Johnson said. “I’ve been greatly rewarded through this race and experience. I just know that down the road I will be back.”
In Ward 5, Andranette Jordan ran away with the election, picking up 271 votes (85 percent) to Libba Alford’s 48 (15 percent).
“I think it’s awesome,” Jordan said. “I really appreciate the support that I got. I appreciate the citizens of Ward 5 for putting their trust in me.
“I’m anxious. I’m excited about the challenge, and I’m sure there will be one. The citizens made their choice, and I’m glad to work with the board as it is.”
Candidates in the city’s other four wards won their seats during the November primary elections, although their names still appeared on Monday’s ballots.
Results in those races included:
• Ward 1, Republican Ted Tullos with 698 (99.4 percent) of 702 votes. He’ll replace Danny Esch, who did not seek re-election.
• Ward 2, Republican Michael Cameron with 460 (99.1 percent) of 464 votes. He ran unopposed to replace Bobby Maddox, who also did not seek re-election.
• Ward 3, Democrat Tammy Witherspoon with 270 (98.9 percent) of 273 votes. She defeated Democratic incumbent E.C. Nobles in the November primary.
• Ward 4, Democrat Melvin Joe Johnson with 265 (96.4 percent) of 275 votes. Johnson was the only incumbent to retain his seat.
The results also bring — for the first time in city history — a four-member Republican majority to the seven-member board.
Monday’s election had a better turnout than the Nov. 1 primaries, when less than 25 percent of the city’s 6,382 registered voters cast ballots. That number increased on Monday to 2,256, which is 35 percent.
