4 days ago
Hattiesburg, Sumrall and Lumberton election results are in: See won in municipal races
Results for the 2025 municipal elections in Hattiesburg, Lumberton and Sumrall are in, with new leadership in some offices and returning leadership in others.
In Hattiesburg, Republican LeAnn Van Slyke Vance won the Ward 3 City Council seat, defeating Democratic candidate Keenon Walker and independent candidate Joe Wiley. Vance pulled in 898 votes or 65% to Walker's 266 votes or 19% and Wiley's 221 votes or 16%.
Longtime Ward 3 Councilman Carter Carroll did not see reelection.
The remaining mayoral and council seats in Hattiesburg were either unopposed or decided in the primary election since the candidates had no opponents in the general election.
In Sumrall, Mayor Joel Lofton easily defeated challenger Dwayne Jones, bringing in 266 votes or 76% of the vote to return for another term. He defeated opponent Dwayne Jones, who had 84 votes or 24%.
Alderwoman at Large Brittany Fortenberry received 268 votes or 77% to challenger Trina McLendon's 80 votes or 23%.
Ward 1 Alderman Lamar Reed, with 30 votes or 29%, lost to challenger Jeffery Coulter, who had 74 votes or 71%.
Lumberton had a full slate, with each alderman and mayoral seat challenged. The aldermen races were close, with some resulting in recounts.
Incumbent Mayor Quincy Rogers lost to challenger James Sandifer Jr., who was endorsed by former candidate Kent Crider. Sandifer received 391 votes or 84% to Rogers' 55 votes or 12%.
Crider, who gave up his Ward 1 Alderman seat to run for mayor, announced in late May that he was dropping out of the race. He received 19 votes despite dropping out of the race.
Ward 1 voters elected a new representative, following Crider's departure to run for mayor. Annette Sandifer won over challenger Tommy Rheams with 67 votes or 53% to Rheams' 59 votes or 47%. It is unclear whether Sandifer is related to the incoming mayor.
Incumbent Alderwoman at Large Sandy Kee will return for another term with 165 votes or 35% to former Alderwoman Tina Speights' 157 votes or 34% and Bobby Gibson's 144 votes or 31%.
In Ward 2, incumbent Kyle Crider was defeated by challenger Laurie Surla, with only two votes separating the two. Surla won with 32 votes or 52% to Crider's 30 votes or 48%.
Former Alderman Jonathan Griffith will return to office in Ward 3 after winning by four votes against incumbent Alderwoman Myrtis Holder. Griffith received 55 votes or 52% to Holder's 51 votes or 48%.
Incumbent Ward 4 Alderwoman Jasmin Holder will return to office after defeating former Alderwoman Audrey Davis. Jasmin Holder received 94 votes or 56% to Davis's 75 votes or 44%.
All results are unofficial until they are certified. Some of the results do not include affidavit or absentee ballots.
Here is the new slate of municipal leaders in Forrest and Lamar County. All new terms begin July 1.
Mayor Toby Barker
Ward 1 Councilman Jeffrey George
Ward 2 Councilman Eric Boney (replacing longtime Councilwoman Deborah Delgado)
Ward 3 Councilwoman LeAnn Van Slyke Vance (replacing longtime Councilman Carter Carroll)
Ward 4 Councilman Dave Ware
Ward 5 Councilman Nicholas Brown
Mayor Tony Ducker
Alderman at Large Mike Lott
Ward 1 Alderman Gerald Steele
Ward 2 Alderwoman Kim Stringer
Ward 3 Alderman Blake Nobles
Ward 4 Alderman Craig Strickland
Ward 5 Alderman Drew Brickson
Ward 6 Alderman Craig Bullock
Mayor Roger Herrin
Alderman at Large Wendell Hudson
Ward 1 Alderwoman Donna Bielstein
Ward 2 Alderman Vernon Hartfield
Ward 3 Alderwoman Jerry Smith
Ward 4 Alderwoman Deborah Ferrell
Mayor Joel Lofton
Alderwoman at Large Brittany Fortenberry
Ward 1 Alderman Jeffery Coulter
Ward 2 Alderwoman Shanna Istre
Ward 3 Alderman Pam Birdsong Graves
Ward 4 Alderman Darrell Hall
Mayor James Sandifer Jr.
Alderwoman at Large Sandy Kee
Ward 1 Alderwoman Annette Sandifer
Ward 2 Alderman Laurie Surla
Ward 3 Alderman Jonathan Griffith
Ward 4 Alderwoman Jasmin Holder
Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@ Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at
This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Hattiesburg, Sumrall, Lumberton election results: All the winners
