Four candidates filed their paperwork before the deadline passed Wednesday for the Oct. 18 special election to determine who will represent McComb’s Ward 4 seat on the city board.
The seat became vacant when Selectman John Bates died earlier in the month after taking office in July.
Mayor Quordiniah Lockley confirmed Tuesday that former Ward 4 selectman Shawn Williams had filed to run, as did Eddie Thompson, Gerald Barnes and Jeffrey James.
Thompson and Barnes also ran for the seat earlier this year. Williams did not seek a second term and ran for mayor instead.
city officials said Thursday that all four candidates had been certified to run for the seat.
The Pike County Election Commissioners will assist with the election for a cost that will not exceed $4,500.
“Just to clarify, our inspectors still will be certifying the election and overseeing the election,” Board Attorney Marcus Williams said. “This is just for assistance and support. They are not handling the election.”
Lockley said the main role of the inspectors will be to certify the candidates and the election results.
“The only thing that our inspectors have to do is they have to vet,” he said. “That’s their responsibility. They cannot shift that responsibility over and they have to certify.”
The Pike County Election Commission will be handling everything in between.
“The county will hire the poll manager, the teller and the two people who sit there with the books,” Lockley said. “They will handle that. They work through the circuit clerk’s office.”
Lockley said the election commission is more prepared to handle those responsibilities.
“That takes the burden off us, off the inspectors who are not really well trained or well schooled in elections and all that,” he said.
Selectman Matt Codding said it was a good idea for the city to make one payment to the county.
Proclamations and resolution
In another matter, the board unanimously passed a resolution honoring Bates. It mentioned that he was a bishop and served as pastor at Summer’s Chapel and Rose Hill Free Will Baptist Church.
“Thank you, mayor, for doing this,” Selectman Matt Codding said. “That was really nice.”
Lockley said it was important to recognize Bates for his service on the board.
“Well, look, he was a city selectman and he was due that from this board,” he said.
The board also unanimously passed a proclamation honoring Sept. 23 as Hilda Casin Reading Day in honor of the retired educator’s 93rd birthday. It says she was a 1948 Burglund High School graduate, 1950 Southern Christian Institute graduate, 1959 Jackson State University graduate and a 1969 and 1977 Ole Miss graduate. It says she was an educator for 50 years as a teacher, principal, supervisor, director and assistant superintendent.
Lockley said he, Selectman Bruce Mullins and Selectwoman Tabitha Felder Isaac were at Casin’s celebration.
“She and Miss Mattie are going to be around forever,” he said of Casin and retired children’s librarian “Miss Mattie” Rials. “They have all contributed to our community.”
The board also unanimously ratified a proclamation declaring Sept. 17 to 23 Constitution Week.
