Two seats will be up for grabs Tuesday in Itta Bena’s general election.
J.D. Brasel, the incumbent alderman-at-large, will face challengers Emmitt Riley and Cassandra Hart in Tuesday’s faceoff. Brasel was elected after Elmus Stockstill vacated the seat to become the Leflore County circuit clerk.
Though he’s only been in the position for six months, Brasel said he feels good about his chances Tuesday.
“I’m just ready for it to get here,” he said. “I feel pretty good, pretty comfortable.”
Brasel said he has things he’s started in Itta Bena that he would like to finish, such as better roads and better police protection. He also served as mayor of Itta Bena in 2001.
Cassandra Hart and Emmitt Riley could not be reached for comment.
In Ward 4, Augustus Johnson, Martha Howard, Daniel Kelly and Mary Jones are all gunning for the post of alderman.
Thelma Collins, who has served twice as mayor of Itta Bena, is running unopposed to serve a third time.
Collins, 68, first served as mayor by filling out the remaining year of Dennis Barlow’s term. She won a full term as mayor in June 1997. In 2001, Collins lost to Brasel, but she ran again in 2005 and won.
In 2009, Collins was defeated by Walter Parker, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election. Collins, an educator, served for 38 years on the Greenwood School District, and two years in the Leflore County School District.
The following candidates for alderman are running unopposed: Mildred Miller (Ward 1), Debra Moore Hudson (Ward 2) and Curtis Purnell (Ward 3).
• Contact Jeanie Riess at 581-7235 or jriess@gwcommonwealth.com.
