A couple of outgoing mayoral posts will soon be filled in the Mississippi Delta, particularly in Clarksdale and Cleveland. On Tuesday, voters were able to narrow the field of candidates.
In Clarksdale, the electorate took to the polls to vote for a leader to take the place of current mayor Chuck Espy, a Democrat. In the crowded Democratic primary consisting of seven office-seekers, Bubba O’Keefe and state Rep. Orlando Paden emerged as the top choices.
According to the Clarksdale Press Register, O’Keefe earned a little over 26% of the vote, while Paden scored just under 25%, forcing a runoff. The runoff election will be held on Tuesday, April 22. Whoever is elected to represent the Democratic Party will face independent challengers Milton Gardner and Scotty Meredith in the general election on Tuesday, June 3.
After choosing not to seek reelection, Cleveland Mayor Billy Nowell left big shoes to fill in the college town. Voters in the Delta city made it clear that they wanted former alderman and police chairman Paul Janoush to occupy the mayor’s seat. Per the Bolivar Bullet, Janoush received roughly 77% of the vote, taking down challenger Adriann Steen-Brown.
No Republican or independent candidates tossed their hat in the ring, making Janoush the next top city official in Cleveland.