The family of Willie Williams, who so far had received most of the votes for alderman-at-large in Itta Bena’s city elections Tuesday, talked about the importance of election day.
That’s when, said his sister Dorothy Smith of Itta Bena, the people get their day. “This is the day we change, and our voice is heard.”
Perhaps not quite yet, because the citywide unofficial totals do not include 73 affidavit ballots and an unknown number of curbside votes, although absentee ballots were counted. Election officials said it is their understanding that the candidate with the most votes, even without a majority, will be declared the winner after tallying continues Wednesday.
According to Tuesday’s totals, Williams had 181 votes followed by Violet Hudson with 114 and Lindsey Meeks with 65.
In the mayor’s race, the totals were 163 for Patricia Young, who runs a child-care center; 149 for Reginald Freeman, who currently sits on the Board of Aldermen; and 54 for Henry Purnell, a former Greenwood police chief.
Furthermore, the tallies are tight in the race for Ward 1 alderman. JoAnn Purnell, an incumbent, received 32 votes as did Toni Wesley-Ellis, and their totals were followed by 31 for Jennifer Walker.
Candidates gathered for the count in the Board of Aldermen’s meeting room at City Hall and left after the totals were announced. The possibility of a runoff was uncertain.
Candidates for other seats on the board were unopposed. They are Kim Dawson, Ward 2; Darrick Hart, Ward 3; and Jerry Crockett, Ward 4.
