03-06-2025
Camilla mayor, clerk, elections supervisor free on bond
CAMILLA – The city of Camilla's mayor, clerk and elections superintendent walked free after a bond hearing held Friday.
Mayor Kelvin Owens was released on a bond of $6,000, City Clerk Cheryl Ford was released on a $10,000 bond, and Elections Superintendent Rhunette Williford was released on a $7,000 bond.
The three city officials were arrested on May 28 and charged with election interference and other charges. This was the same day a Mitchell County Grand Jury returned an indictment against the trio.
The Grand Jury handed down the 13-count indictment on Wednesday in relation to a November special election for an unexpired Camilla City Council seat that was ultimately won by council member Azalee Vereen.
On Election Day, the city's special election was canceled, and voters were barred from voting. The special election resumed at 4 p.m. that day, running until 4 a.m..
The arrests follow a lengthy legal case involving two former city council members who were ruled ineligible to serve because they could not prove they were residents of Camilla. No bond hearing had been held in that case as of Monday morning.
