Voters return to the polls today for general election
TUPELO — Voters will return to the polls today for the final municipal election of the year, with two of Tupelo's seven seats still up for grabs.
The polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents from Ward 3 and Ward 5 have their chance to decide who will represent their area for the next four years.
In Ward 3, incumbent Republican Travis Beard, a retired teacher, will face Democrat Shirley Hendrix, owner of R&B Specialty Printing. Beard is running for a third full term. Neither opponent had challengers during the April 1 primary elections, which secured their seats without need for voting.
In Ward 5, Democrat Candria Lewis and Republican Bentley Nolan both hope to take the seat left vacant when incumbent Republican Councilman Buddy Palmer, who decided not to run for reelection, leaves the council in July.
While Nolan defeated two Republican opponents in the primary and subsequent runoff election, Lewis had no primary opposition.
Whomever claims the reins for Ward 3 and Ward 5 will join the other candidates who either won in the primary election or ran unopposed. They include Republican Ward 1 Councilman Chad Mims, Republican Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan, Democrat Ward 4 Councilwoman Nettie Davis, Republican Ward 6 Councilwoman Janet Gaston, Democrat Ward 7 Councilwoman Rosie Jones and Republican Mayor Todd Jordan.
New terms will begin July 1, giving Palmer one more month as part of the council before becoming councilman emeritus.
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