
Shirley Hendrix qualifies for Ward 3, will face Travis Beard
TUPELO — With just days left before the deadline, Democrat Shirley Hendrix has qualified to run for Ward 3, hoping to take the seat from its three-term incumbent.
Shirley Hendrix, 57, who owns R&B Specialty Printing, qualified Wednesday afternoon to run as the representative of Ward 3 on the Tupelo City Council. The seat is currently held by Republican Travis Beard, who has also qualified for what would be his fourth term if reelected.
Qualifying for municipal office ends Friday afternoon, and Mayor Todd Jordan, Ward 1 Councilman Chad Mims and Ward 6 Councilwoman Janet Gaston are running for reelection unchallenged.
Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan, Ward 4 Councilwoman Nettie Davis and Ward 7 Councilwoman Rosie Jones have opposition, while Ward 5 Councilman Buddy Palmer isn't running for reelection.
Lucas Berryhill, 64 qualified as a Republican in Ward 2. Democrats Alexandra Mercedes Copeland, 31, and Brenda DePriest, 72, qualified for Ward 4, and former Ward 7 Councilman Willie Jennings hopes to reclaim his seat from Jones, who beat him in the previous municipal election for her first term.
In Ward 5, three Republicans hope to claim the seat left vacant by Palmer: Steven J. Coon, Mike Horton and Bentley Nolan. No Democrats have qualified to run for the seat.
If none of these races have opponents from more than one party, they will be decided during April 1 primary election. If there is no clear winner in races with more than two candidates, there will be a runoff election on April 22.
The general election will be June 3, and the winner will be sworn in on July 1.
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