It’s official. The new mayor of Itta Bena is J.D. Brasel.
The electrician who presently serves on the Board of Aldermen received 161 votes in Tuesday’s election, or 52 percent, according to the final tally verified Wednesday by the town’s election commissioners. Willie McGee, a hospice chaplain, got 151 votes, or 48 percent.
Brasel, who previously served as mayor from 2001 to 2005, will be replacing Thelma Collins, who chose not to seek re-election. The new term begins July 1.
The outcome of the election was held up for a day until a large number of affidavit ballots, 73, could be considered. Brasel’s 13-vote advantage on election night narrowly slightly but held up after the qualified affidavit ballots were added to the total.
Affidavit ballots didn’t change the results of the contested aldermen races either.
In Ward 3, newcomer Derrick Hart captured 57 votes against 33 for incumbent Curtis Purnell. Hart said that although he was disappointed in the low voter turnout, he was overwhelmed by his supporters.
“I think a lot of people here in this ward were looking for a transition from the old way of doing things,” Hart said.
He characterized the race as fair and said before the results were known, he went to his opponent and neighbor’s home and shook his hand.
Hart said he was concerned with the deteriorating conditions of water, roads and sewage in Itta Bena.
“Right now, over half the city has experienced problems where they have sewage backup,” Hart told the Commonwealth in April.
Incumbent Ward 4 Alderman Reginald Freeman easily held on to his seat. He received 58 votes, outpolling Edward Johnson with 18 and Daryl Johnson with 10. The Johnsons are not related.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
