Meridian voters will find themselves with plenty of candidates to choose from as they head to the polls on April 1 to vote in the 2025 municipal elections.

 

Of the six races — one for mayor and five city council seats —  only City Council Ward 2, currently occupied by Dwayne Davis, will not face a primary challenge.

 

On the Democrat ticket, incumbent Mayor Jimmie Smith faces off against former Mayor Percy Bland, former Meridian police officer Rita Jack and City Councilwoman Ty Bell Lindsey, who represents Ward 5.

 

The winner of the four-way race will go on to face Republican candidate Stephen Derik Boler and Independent Jimmie Copeland in the general election.

 

In the race for City Council Ward 1, Tyrone Johnson and Cassandra Amerson will face off on the Democrat ticket while Elliot Brewer and Elton Reed vie for the Republican nomination. The winner of the general election in June will replace longtime Councilman George Thomas, who said he plans to retire after 40 years on the council.

 

The Ward 2 race will not see a primary challenge and instead send incumbent Democrat Dwayne Davis straight through to the general election to face off against Independent challenger Kyle L. Waller. No Republican qualified to run for the Ward 2 seat.

 

A crowded field of candidates has lined up for the Ward 3 council seat, with five candidates in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Joe Norwood Jr. is being challenged by LeQuincy Kimbrough, Sandra Faye Moore, Joy L. Finley and Tracy V. Tims. The candidate who secures the Democratic nomination will go on to face Republican Beverly Henson in the general election.

 

Residents of Ward 4 will see familiar names on the ballot this year, with incumbent Councilwoman Romande Walker and former Councilwoman Kim Houston facing off in the Democratic primary. No Republican or Independent candidates qualified to run for the Ward 4 seat, so the winner of the primary election will be uncontested in the general election.

 

Ward 5 residents will also have some decisions to make with multiple candidates running to replace Lindsey, who opted to run for mayor instead of another term in the council seat. Brandon Rue, Jatara Smith and Shirley Bolden Goodwin will take part in a three-way contest on the Democrat ballot, while Republicans Dustin Hill and Chad Acton work to clinch their party’s nomination.

 

The Democrat and Republican nominees will go on to face Independent candidate Ricky “Rick” Spells in the general election, set for June 3.

 

Candidates need to achieve a majority vote, or 50% of the vote plus one vote, to avoid a runoff election. In a runoff election, the two candidates with the most votes face off on a separate ballot. The candidate with the most votes in the runoff is the winner.

 

Runoff elections for the primary elections will be held April 22, if they are needed.

 

Marion elections

 

Residents of Marion will face a much smaller field of candidates when they head to the polls. Unlike Meridian, Marion candidates are nonpartisan and will not participate in party primaries. All candidates will appear on the June 3 general election ballot.

 

Up for election are the mayor of Marion and five seats on the Board of Aldermen. Mayor Larry Gill is running unopposed for his second term in office as no other candidates qualified to run for the mayoral seat.

 

Running for aldermen are incumbents Stacy McInnis Blalock, Lou Ann Baylor, Norman Coleman and Tammy Young. They are being challenged by Koredé S. Stennis and former Alderwoman Rita S. Rawson.

 

Unlike Meridian, which elects representatives from each ward, Marion aldermen are elected at large, meaning each candidate is voted on by the entire town.

 

Those needing to register to vote or update their existing voter registration must do so by 5 p.m. March 3 to be eligible to vote in the April 1 primaries. Absentee voting — available to those with a valid excuse such as work, school or vacation conflicts that will not allow them to vote in person on Election Day — is set to begin March 22.