Three candidates are vying Tuesday for an empty at-large seat on the Itta Bena Board of Aldermen.
J.D. Brasel Jr. is an electrician and former Itta Bena mayor; Emmitt Riley III, 25, is an instructor at Coahoma Community College and works as the Leflore County School District’s part-time public relations director; Byron Williams, 42, is a disabled Itta Bena native who moved back home a decade ago.
Each wants to fill the remainder of Elmus Stockstill’s term, which ends in June 2013. He resigned after being becoming Leflore County’s circuit clerk at the beginning of the year.
The alderman receives an annual salary of $4,800 in the city with a population of 2,000.
Brasel served one term as Itta Bena’s mayor from 2001 to 2005 and was an alderman for three years in the 1980s. He ran for the Board of Aldermen in 2009 in Ward 3 but lost to Robert Wilson.
Brasel could not be reached for comment.
Riley is an Itta Bena native. He has a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi Valley State University in English and political science and a master’s degree in political science from Jackson State University. He’s pursuing a doctorate at Ole Miss and aims for a career in academia.
In addition to his work at the community college and school district, Riley is a consultant for Educational Testing Services, which develops tests such as the American College Test and the Advanced Placement Program.
He said he believes Itta Bena deserves better and can do better. He said if the city pulls together its existing resources, it can improve its infrastructure, quality of life and economic condition.
Riley also called for more accountability, especially for law enforcement.
“We just need to improve efficiency in our city on all fronts,” he said.
Williams, an Itta Bena native, moved back to his hometown in 2001.
He said he’s running because he thought it was time to step up and move the city forward.
When he was growing up, Williams said, he and other children often played at the Dorothy Street Park. It gradually deteriorated over time, though, and no one did anything to renovate it, he said. Williams said he’d like to re-establish such places for youth to go.
He said he’d also work with local, state and federal officials to bring in a grocery store and do street, water and sewer projects.
The nonpartisan special election will be held at the regular polling places in Itta Bena — the library and fire station — and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Contact Charlie Smith at 581-7235 or csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
