One selectman was re-elected, a newcomer claimed a seat on the McComb city board, Democrats picked a nominee to face an incumbent in June — and two other candidates are biting their nails this morning.
That’s how everything shook out after a long night of ballot counting Tuesday at McComb City Hall.
Ward 1 Selectman Ted Tullos cruised to re-election, and Shawn Williams secured enough votes to claim the Ward 4 seat. Bruce Mullins had enough in his favor to secure the Democratic nomination in Ward 2, and the Ward 3 race between Devante Johnson and Terri Waterman-Baylor is razor thin and will likely come down to absentee and affidavit ballots.
Counting ended just before midnight at city hall, with an election official feeding paper ballots into a scanner one at a time. Party officials didn’t keep count of how many absentee and affidavit ballots were outstanding in each race.
Absentee ballots were being counted at 10 this morning, and affidavit ballots could take up to five business days to count.
Here’s a look at the results:
Ward 1: Tullos easily re-elected
In the Ward 1 race, Republican incumbent Tullos had a resounding victory with 379 votes (97 percent), while challenger Ed Silence received just 10 votes. “I just appreciate the citizens of Ward 1 to allow me to serve them again,” Tullos said.
He will be sworn in to a third term in July.
Tullos said the victory is a vote of approval not only for him but the direction the city has taken over the past two terms.
“I thought I showed how well the city board has performed over the past eight years,” he said.
Tullos said he wants to build on that work, pointing specifically to street repairs.
“We were able to pave 25 miles of streets without raising taxes,” he said.
Tullos said his involvement in organizing charity golf tournaments for under-privileged children and the McComb Railroad Depot Museum are examples of how he gives back to the community outside of the office, and as a selectman, he plans to continue to be responsive to residents’ needs.
“If you’re out there on a weekly basis noticing things that need to be done around the city and you call it in. ... you’re doing a good job. Some people don’t know you’re doing it but a lot do,” he said.
Ward 2: Mullins likely
winner over Upchurch
In the Ward 2 Democratic primary, Bruce Mullins received 88 votes (56 percent) to Christopher Upchurch’s 67 (43 percent) and will likely secure his party’s nomination.
He’ll face Republican incumbent Michael Cameron in the general election.
Mullins, in his first run for political office, wasn’t among the candidates who flocked to city hall for election results Tuesday night.
“I didn’t even stay up to wait for the results of the election. I just figured it was going to be what it was going to be,” he said.
The retired Amtrak employee said he believes his age and experience made the difference.
“I think what the difference here is the fact that I’m a little older than my opponent, probably a little more experienced with dealing with the public and those people who actually voted, I think they were able to determine that,” he said.
Mullins said that if he wins the general election he wants to be a uniting force on a city board long criticized for its divisiveness.
“In the city, what happens I guess in Ward 2, the people have become so comfortable, they’re forgetting this is a whole city,” he said. “What happens in the other wards if it’s negative, eventually it will affect you. You need to have people in office running as a team and working together to improve the city.”
Mullins said he believes education, crime, litter and blighted properties are some of the biggest issues facing McComb, and he believes race also is too often a factor in many issues.
“We can’t make it a black issue or white issue. It is a citizen of McComb issue,” he said.
Ward 3: Too close to call
With only eight votes separating Devante Johnson from Terri Waterman-Baylor, absentee and affidavit ballots could determine the winner.
The winner will replace Albert Eubanks as the city’s selectman representing east McComb. Eubanks lost a bid for the Democratic primary nomination for mayor Tuesday.
After in-person ballots were counted, Johnson led Waterman-Baylor 126 (52 percent) to 118 (48 percent).
“It feels very exciting, because the competition is just beginning. One has to win and one has to lose. If I win, it’ll be an exciting win,” said Waterman-Baylor, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in a 2016 special election. “It’s nailbiting. I’ve never been in a situation. I’m just going to hold on to my faith. I’m going to be anxious. I’m just excited to see the outcome.”
Waterman-Baylor and Johnson split just 244 votes in a ward that has between 1,100 and 1,200 active voters.
Johnson said he was surprised by the thin margin separating him and his opponent, but he’s waiting for the election process to play out.
“I feel great,” he said. “This is a process. Didn’t expect it to be this close, but hey, we’re here, and I just want to see the process through.”
He said if he wins, it’s time to get to work.
“We began moving Ward 3 forward and the first thing I want to do is to reach out to Mrs. Baylor and ask her to come on board and be one of my advisors on this journey. We’ll get out and reach the constituents to see what’s on their agenda first before the first board meeting in July.”
Johnson said the lower voter turnout is a sign that there is a disconnect between elected officials and their constituents.
“We’ve got to get there and engage people. Turnout is the thing and it wasn’t where it needed to be,” he said.
Ward 4: Williams to join board
Shawn Williams defeated Eddie Thompson 179 (59 percent) to 123 (41 percent) to become the new Ward 4 selectman.
“We did it. To God be the glory,” he said this morning. “I am excited and really proud of myself.”
Since there is no general election opposition, Williams will claim the seat outright, replacing Donovan Hill, who won the Democratic nomination for selectman at-large on Tuesday.
Williams also was disappointed by low voter turnout.
“To see 303 voters came out, it’s way more than that in Ward 4,” he said. “I’m going to be honest, I was really disappointed at the numbers.”
He said it shows the city has to do a better job.
“If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain,” he said. “
Thompson graciously accepted defeat and said this morning that he fully backs Williams.
“It was great race. It’s a win-win for my ward. The turnout that we had favored him more and I think he deserved it. I’ll be behind him 100 percent,” he said.
