By Maybelle G. Cagle
Special to The Clinton News

Fast facts The Clinton Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a candidate forum at 7 p.m. April 21 in the Clinton Junior High auditorium, according to Robert Shelton, team leader for the chamber's governmental affairs committee.

A total of 27 candidates qualified to seek office in this spring's municipal election. The number is believed to be the largest in the city's history.

Suzanne Decell, a candidate for Ward 4 alderman, dropped out of the race Monday, citing a conflict of interest with her position at Trustmark Bank. That leaves the candidate count at 26.

"I am definitely surprised (at the number qualifying)," said Vera Watson, who has lived in Clinton 27 years. Running for alderman at-large, she was one of several qualifying in the final days before the 5 p.m. deadline Friday.

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Other newcomers on the at-large list are Mary Welch and Anne Macke.

Welch will face incumbent Jehu Brabham in the Republican primary May 3. Watson and Macke will square off in the Democratic primary. Independent candidate Gary Taylor will automatically be on the June 7 general election ballot.

A contender in the 2001 at-large race, "I thought I'd try it again," said Watson. "We still need new blood."

Watson, a Clinton Junior High social studies teacher, said she plans to "get around the city as much as possible" and to familiarize herself with the issues. She considers herself "community-minded," serving as president of the Clinton Association of Educators and on the board of the Clinton Community Christian Corp.

Watson is also on the city's executive committee for the Democratic Party and can remain on that, although she is a candidate. She cannot, however, work at the polls during the election.

"In the past three years, I have spoken to people from all over our city, from every aspect of life, who voiced their concerns about the direction our city is going. I have decided to step up and be a representative for those people," said Welch.

Welch and her husband Scot took the city to court after being ordered to remove a treehouse from their front yard. After the city appealed a Chancery Court decision, the case finally ended with a ruling in the Welches' favor by the state Supreme Court.

"I am a stay-at-home mother of four," said Mary Welch. "My youngest enters pre-school in the fall, so if elected, this would be a full-time job."

"A lot of people called and told me they wanted me to run for alderman at-large," said Macke, a longtime Clintonian who has been active in civic affairs. "As alderman at-large, I can represent everybody who has asked me to run."

Ward 1

Newcomers in the Ward 1 race are Victoria Patton, a Democrat, and Christine Whitton. Whitton will face incumbent Tony Hisaw and John Weisenberger in the Republican primary.

"This is my second time running for alderman after losing by a small margin of votes in the last election," said Patton, executive director of the Mississippi Housing Initiative.

"I am running because I want to be a voice for all of Ward 1 citizens. Selective representation on the board has existed for far too long," she said.

"I am very familiar with the citizens in Ward 1 and the city as a whole," she said. "I communicated with many of them during my four years as a telecommunications operator at the Clinton Police Department."

Ward 2

Joining the race for Ward 2 is Bryan Tompkins. He will face incumbent Tony Greer and Andrew Pitts in the Republican primary.

"I have always had the belief that if you see a problem or want to change something, you can't complain unless you get involved," said Tompkins, a native Clintonian. He said the number of candidates qualifying is the largest he can recall.

The electrical company owner said he had planned to run four years ago, but "I had started up a new business and didn't have time."

"I think people are ready for a change. The treehouse (court battle) is one thing, but there are some other things people are unhappy with," Tompkins said.

He was among the last to qualify because "it is a commitment like anything else."

"I wanted time to be sure about it."

Ward 3

Joining the race for Ward 3 alderman is Thomas Smith, who will face Ben Todd and Mike Bishop in the Republican primary. Leon Seals will be the Democrat nominee on the general election ballot.

Ward 3 incumbent Clint Brantley will not seek re-election, but instead is running for mayor.

Smith, a Delphi retiree, lives in Southern Oaks and is past president of its homeowners association. Southern Oaks was among the areas annexed by Clinton in 2004.

"I've had almost the entire homeowners association ask me if I would be interested in running for Ward 3 alderman," Smith said.

"I wanted to wait until the (redistricting) plan was approved. I wanted to be sure people could vote for me," he said. "I was glad to hear the plan was approved, so everyone will have the opportunity to vote."

Smith said the annexation put Southern Oaks residents in the middle of a land fight between Jackson and Clinton.

"We were forced to be for Clinton," he said, "but I believe the city will do what it said it would do for the annexed area."

Ward 5

Joining the Ward 5 race is David Bryant, who will face incumbent Herb Touchton, Johnny Courson and Mike Morgan in the Republican primary.

Bryant, who grew up in south Jackson, has lived in Clinton for six years. He is director of customer service for Jackson-Ready Mix Concrete.

"I think our country is going in a different direction. I am concerned the Constitution is becoming a figurehead," he said. "It is slowly becoming a community problem."

"We all have thoughts of getting involved politically," he said. "The idea has been very strong with me this year."

Bryant said he is a member of Morrison Heights Baptist Church, but has "no ties" with any organization.

Other races

Incumbent Phil Fisher, a Republican, is unopposed in the Ward 4 race. Republican William Barnett is the only candidate for Ward 6. Incumbent Sharbert Lott is not seeking re-election.

Mayor Rosemary Aultman will face Clint Brantley in the Republican primary. The general election ballot will include John Mosley, running as an independent, and Democrat Troy Holcomb.