Some incumbent mayors starting to look for new job today
Most Mississippi cities elect mayors this year, and party primaries yesterday narrowed the fields of candidates.
Primary runoffs are May 21. The general election is June 4, with mayoral terms beginning July 1. A candidate must win 50 percent plus one to avoid a runoff, and otherwise the top two vote-getters advance.
In Vicksburg, The Vicksburg Post was reporting late yesterday that Rep. George Flaggs, Jr., was easily leading five other Democratic candidates with all 11 precincts reporting. Unofficial results showed Flaggs had 2,590 votes, Linda Fondren had 1,515 and first-term Mayor Paul Winfield had 402.
In Jackson, the Clarion Ledger was reporting that businessman Jonathan Lee outpolled 10 other Democrats, including three-term Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., with 100 precincts reporting. Lee had 11,926 votes, City Council member Chokwe (pronounced SHOW-kway) Lumumba had 8,289 and Johnson had 7,150. Lee and Lumumba advance to a runoff.
AP
5/8/13
Magnolia Tribune
