Municipal qualifying officially ended Tuesday for Troy, Brundidge, Banks and Goshen.

Goshen will not be holding an election this year, as only one candidate qualified for each position. Mayor Jack Waller will return, but this time as a councilmember.

“It was time to let somebody else run,” said Waller, who served as Goshen’s mayor for eight years. “It’s time to have a little bit more freedom to enjoy the grandkids, mission trips and vacations.”

Councilmember Darren Jordan will become the mayor in October.

“I’m humbled,” Jordan said. “It feels good to know that this may be a show of unity in the community, and that they believe in me to be mayor moving forward. I look forward to helping Goshen keep the same way of life and be a good place to raise a family.”

Jimmy Brian and Mack Barber are returning to serve on the council, and Shaun Richburg and Jared Buchanan are replacing Mary Jane Hughes and William McMaster.

In Brundidge, Michael Davenport qualified Tuesday to enter the already crowded mayoral race, joining Isabell Boyd, Johnny Ross, Lawrence Bowden, Charlie Harris, Cynthia Pearson and Jamie Powell.

Byron Gaynor qualified Monday for the District 4 seat, challenging Jimmy Ramage, who decided to run for council instead of his long-held mayoral seat.

District 1 Councilwoman Betty Baxter, District 2 Councilman Arthur Griffin and District 3 Councilwoman Margaret Ross have all qualified for reelection and are running unopposed.

No new candidates qualified for Troy, so there remains a three-way race for mayor between incumbent Jason Reeves, Olanda Hardy and Raymond Sexton.

Several candidates are running for the District 1 seat after veteran Charlie “Sarge” Dunn announced that he would not be running for reelection. Those candidates are Robert Jones, Anthony Jackson, Mary Helen Collins, Matthew Jordan and Jimmy Clarence Scott.

Former councilwoman Wanda Moultry is challenging Current District 5 Councilwoman Dejerilyn King Henderson for her seat. District 2 Councilman Greg Meeks and District 3 Councilman Marcus Paramore have both qualified to run for reelection and are currently unopposed. Stephanie Baker has qualified to fill the District 4 seat that is being vacated by John Witherington and is unopposed.

Nobody from the Banks Town Government could be reached for comment. Municipal elections will take place in Troy, Brundidge, Goshen and Banks on August 23.

Voters looking to vote by absentee ballot will need to contact their city clerk to apply for a ballot. Absentee ballots will be available about a week after qualifying ends.

The absentee voting deadline is August 18. Residents should contact their city clerks to request ballots or for more