Municipal  qualifying ends; final ballots set

On Nov. 5, Troy will have a new mayor.

When qualifications for municipal elections ended at 5 p.m. Tuesday, current Troy Councilman Jason Reeves was the only candidate qualified to run in the mayoral race.

“I am very humbled and honored,” said Reeves who was on his way to take his son to baseball practice when he heard the news. “I am excited about the future.”

Reeves was the city’s youngest elected official and has served on the city council for 16 years. At the Troy City Council meeting next Tuesday, council members will be asked to adopt a resolution making Reeves and Greg Meeks, who qualified as a city council candidate for District 2, officially mayor elect and councilman elect.

“I am very grateful that I have this opportunity,” Reeves said Tuesday evening. “I think the only thing that Troy is limited by is how big we can dream and how hard we can work.”

Reeves said he’ll be spending the next six weeks working to build good relationships, gather information and work on his transition into office. He plans to work with Mayor Jimmy Lunsford on the city’s upcoming budget.

 

 

 

 

 

In Brundidge, the race for mayor is on.

Incumbent Mayor Jimmy Ramage is being challenged by two people – Michael Foster and Jamie Lee Powell.

Ramage has served the city as mayor, he said, since 1986 when the city created the position. Before that, he was a city commissioner since 1976.

Ramage said he’s running again to keep the city moving forward.

“I want to use the experience and contacts I have for Brundidge to be a vital town and a town that is considered for industry and business,” Ramage said shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Even though Ramage seems confident in his experience, he said he’s not going to be letting his guard down and he’s even a little nervous.

“You better be [nervous],” Ramage said. “You’ve got to run to win.”

As for Brundidge’s municipal elections, Ramage said the races will be interesting.

“This is the most people I’ve ever seen on the ballot,” he said. “We’ve never had 16 run before.”

Banks, once again, will not hold an election. Only one candidate per position has qualified and there’s even an open seat on the council that will need to be appointed. Town officials said Banks has not had a municipal election in more than 20 years.

In Goshen, two people have qualified for mayor and seven have qualified for six spots in the open election.

The Messenger plans to speak with each candidate for upcoming articles detailing their plans for respective positions, if they were to be elected.