Final field set for mayor, aldermen

A total of 20 candidates have qualified for the upcoming municipal elections.

Party primaries are April 1. The deadline to qualify was 5 p.m. on Friday.

Incumbent Mayor James A. Young has qualified for re-election and will face Democrat challengers Leroy Clemons and Cassie Henson Hickman in the primary. 

The winner of the Democrat primary will face Jim Fulton, current Ward 2 Alderman and Republican candidate for mayor, in the general election.

In Ward 1, Democrat Avia J. Jackson will face the winner of the Republican primary between Cody Pilgrim and Bert Turcotte. Incumbent Alderman Justin Clearman announced he would not seek re-election.

In Ward 2, Republicans Bill Griffis and Mark Cheatham have both qualified. Since no Democrat candidate has entered the race, the winner will run unopposed in the general election.

In Ward 3, incumbent Alderman James A. Tatum Sr. is seeking re-election as a Democrat and will face Democrat challenger Darnell Horne in the primary.

Four candidates — Hunter Thrash, Kenneth L. “Kenny” Hillman, Brad Smith, and Phillip Smith —have qualified as Republicans in Ward 3.

In Ward 4, incumbent Alderman Shaun Seales is running for re-election as an Independent and is unopposed.

For the Alderman-at-Large seat, incumbent Republican James Waltman has qualified for re-election. He will face the winner of the Democrat primary between Zaus Kirkland and Ajatha M. Nichols. 

James Randy Adcock has withdrawn from the Alderman-at-Large race.

Kirkland had initially qualified to run in Ward 2 but withdrew to seek the Alderman-at-Large position instead.

The deadline to register to vote in the primaries is Monday, March 3. The general election is June 3, with the voter registration deadline set for May 5.