As Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over 'till it's over." One more
election is needed to decide who will serve as mayor for the next four years in
Alexander. The two candidates on the ballot will be current Mayor Michelle
Hobbs and former Mayor Paul Mitchell.
A run-off election is needed because none of the four candidates for
mayor received 50% of the votes in the November 4 election. The run-off
election will be held Tuesday, November 25. Ballots may be cast at your usual
polling place.
Although the results are still
unofficial Hobbs received 161 votes at 35.29-percent, while Mitchell garnered
127 votes at 27.79-percent. The other two candidates were Corliss
"Jerry" Ball, who received 110 votes at 24.07-percent, and Farren
Wadley, who received 59 votes at 12.91-percent.
Aldermen races were also
decided during this election. Three of them were won by only a few votes.
For the Ward-1 Position-2 spot Jeffery S. Watson squeaked by Jean Cummings
Fisher by four votes, 210 to 206.
In the race for Ward-2 Position-1 Stephanie Beck beat
Kenneth D. Miller 234 to 184. Miller was appointed to that seat in October to
complete the unexpired term of former Alderman Brad Scott who resigned in June.
He will serve until December 31.
Another
tight race was for the Ward-2 Position-2 seat. Former Alderman Andy Mullins defeated current Alderman Juanita Wilson
219 to 209. Wilson defeat Mullins in the 2012 election.
The Ward-3
Position-2 seat was won by only eight votes. Former Alderman Dan Church beat former Alderman Harvey C. Howard 219
to 211. Church also defeated Howard in the 2012 election when Howard was
serving on the council.
Finally in the race for the Ward-4 Position-1 spot Melissa Ratliff
defeated Monroe Cates 254 to
172. This is her first time running for elected office in Alexander. Cates has
been on the ballot in two other elections and lost both times. This seat is
currently held by Alderman Faye McKeon, who was appointed to the position in
2013 and did not run for election.
Three council seats had
candidates who were unopposed. Louis E. Hobbs, husband of Mayor Michelle Hobbs,
will serve as alderman for the Ward-1 Position-1 seat. That position is
currently held by Ceola Bailey, who did not seek re-election. Ward-3 Position-1
Alderman Andrea Bearden and Ward-4 Position-2 Alderman Lonny Chapman were also unopposed.
Regret for the Ward 2 outcome - BELIEVE ME - Juanita Wilson has done more for the community in 2 years than Mullins has done for ANYTHING in his entire life. She doesn't make "pie in the sky" promises either. She will tell you if she can help, and she will try hard to do it, but makes no unfounded promises.
ReplyDeleteDon't go away, Ms Juanita, we'll be looking for you back ASAP.
She also didn't run around illegally firing city employees like her soon-to-be replacement did when he was alderman. We get one more chance to send the current mayor packing. Let's not screw this up.
ReplyDeleteSo we have a choice. A Mayor who doesn't care about the city, does things her own way, will not/can not balance a budget. Doesn't schedule the council meetings as she is suppose to. Does not come prepared to those meetings to discuss the issues at hand.
ReplyDeleteAnd the other candidate has a wife with a drug issue, also does not care about the south side of Alexander. Hopefully the city attorney can keep him on track if we so choose to vote for him.
Sorry citizens of Alexander we are in deep trouble with either choice for the next few years. Until proven wrong.
If you were a resident of Alexander you would know the facts; while you have some facts correct on the current mayor – there are many not mentioned; you do not have anything current or correct on Paul. Do you know he LIVES in South Alexander? His wife HAD not ‘has’ drug issues, that grew from a physical issue, has been attended to; that he stood by her while she ‘attended to it.’ That she is his greatest supporter today, and that says a lot since he has a lot of supporters and friends in all of Alexander.
DeleteIf you go, or had gone to council meetings when Paul was Mayor, you would know the council controlled by this mayor even as a recorder hogtied him and nothing could get done, except their incessant bragging that nothing was getting done. If you do not have a panel of elected officials working together nothing can get done. Voters don’t understand the importance of being involved, and do not understand the debate that takes place, but is so vital to working together and for compromise.
It amazes me when adults fail to have even the basic understanding of how government works and choose instead to march out to vote relying solely upon ignorance and emotion
DeleteAGREED!!
ReplyDeleteWorse yet are those who depend on political ads to tell the truth!
Being involved, watching what is going on;
Who is contributing;
Who is hindering;
Who is working on issues;
Who didn't get their own way;
What's been done; and what not done and by who's objection.
Alex, Can we get the phone numbers of all elected officials included in the roster for this coming year so their constituents can communicate their needs, concerns and questions?
(501) 860 - 1252 Call me anytime. I am not sworn in yet, but I have attended enough meetings to see for myself what is going on. On that same note, I wish many more folks would come join us during the meetings which do take place so they also can see for themselves, instead of - as you mentioned - relying on political ads, propaganda, and rumors to aid in their voting decisions.
DeleteBy the way, if you would like to discuss this with Paul, he is on facebook
ReplyDeleteTo the ignoramus that pointed out that tooth loss is not caused from crohns... you obviously have the internet, maybe you should use it to educate yourself before you spread such vitriol.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is here to basically character assassinate opponents of this "red & white" team. So here are some basic facts. Former Mayor Mitchells wife was convicted of methamphetamine. her age in 2012 list in a article on January 3,2012 as 34 years old. Which would make her in 2014 36 or 37. Mr. Mitchell says he has been married since 1994. That would make him in his early 40's and his wife either 16 or 17. Sounds creepy if you ask me. I am not a fan of Mayor Hobbs, but don't act like Mr. Mitchell is a saint. If he was 40 years old and married a 16 or 17 year old girl, that makes my stomach turn.. I have a granddaughter who is 16 and the thought of a 40 something man asking for her hand. Believe me her grandfather would handle if her dad didn't. In closing except for this young woman who won the one's on your team that had opponets they lost. So that tells you that your group isn't well liked.
ReplyDeleteWendy, you have never seen any character assassinations here from the red & white. They have never had to resort to such tactics, nor would they. Truth hurts, and something, like your unfounded and biased remarks echo about as empty as they were the first time I heard them.
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ReplyDeleteOH BY THE BY--- MORE THAN 1 PERSON WAS ELECTED FROM THE RED AND WHITE TEAM, SO YOUR NUMBERS DON:T ADD UP TOO BAD YOUR VOTERS CANT ELECT MORE EDUCATED FOLKS TO THE COUNCIL
DeleteWell the Mud has been slung, too bad some folks have drag up past mistakes, and What is wrong with being married 20 YEARS?
DeleteBeing joined in lawful marriage is in fact, legal, no matter how "creepy" one may find it to be. We are all now well aware of the past drug charges and the result of the elections, but thank you so much for your biting expose.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, politics comes down to the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.
What I learned about the Mitchells is simply that they are over-comers. Facing tremendous trials; physical, social and political - together, yet separately they each have over come the adversity. They are stronger together and separately, each dedicated to the success of the other. I’m proud to call them friends.
DeleteHave my vote – ABSOLUTELY!
Which one of you has a perfect record? How many of you have been married for 20 years? I know who I've been lied to by, and that's the mayor who is currently in office. She does these things for the kids, but when it came to MY KIDS, she made my son cry. He shed tears for weeks over what she did to us. I've never been lied to by Paul Mitchell. As for our phone numbers they are public record. We had to submit them on our application for petition to run as your elected officials. I also have a Facebook page myself just to put out there what I know to be FACT and to answer any questions which anyone would have. As for Paul & Jenny, I can't speak for her, but I can tell you at 17 years old I was in college and could make up my own mind. It's not so uncommon for a woman her age to get married. The fact they are still together after having their marriage tested in such a way speaks volumes alone about their commitment! I stand behind Paul Mitchell because I know he has personal experience in many of the areas we are having problems with this city. You cannot bring up his past expecting it to account for his present. Is Jenny running for mayor? Why even bring her into this? I don't hear anyone using Michelle Hobbs' husband as ammunition or as a credential. Sounds like some people are awfully desperate to bring others down. We need someone who will work with council, and I know Paul will be the man to do the job.
ReplyDeleteI even offered to sit down and talk with Michelle Hobbs as myself being a citizen to see what we could work out, and she REFUSED TO TALK TO ME. This is my biggest problem with her. Not only that, but when she admitted to what she had done, and it was said that she hurt my son, she has never offered me, my family, NOR MY SON even the slightest of an apology for her wrong doing, her lies, and her complete lack of compassion. We definitely do NOT need someone so heartless in office. That's my bottom line.
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