While many Lauderdale County voters are enjoying a break from Mississippi’s constant election cycle, participation from Meridian and Marion voters is especially important this year.

 

Municipal primary elections for Meridian — Marion candidates are nonpartisan and skip the primaries — are just over two weeks away, and votes cast this year will directly impact the daily lives of Meridian citizens for the next four years.

 

On the ticket are each of the city’s five seats on the City Council, with residents from each of the five wards voting to elect their own representative on the council. Also included are candidates for mayor, a position which wields power uncommon in most other municipalities in the state.

 

In most cities and towns throughout the state, major decisions are made by the city council or board of aldermen, and the mayor is responsible for carrying out those directives. The council or board acts as both the executive and legislative branches of government, with the mayor serving in more of a management role.

 

In Meridian, however, the mayor sits as the head of the executive branch and controls the day-to-day operations of the city government. The council, which serves as the legislative branch of government, has power over the finances, setting a budget each year and deciding how much city departments have to spend.

 

One of the first tasks for incoming mayors is the appointment of department heads to oversee police, fire, public works, community development, parks and recreation, public safety, finance and records and more, and one of the first tasks for a new council is to sign off on those appointments.

 

With mayoral and council elections, which are held every four years, comes the potential for the complete replacement of both the executive and legislative branches of the city government and a total reversal or realignment of policy to suit the new administration.

 

On the City Council, residents of Wards 1 and 5 are already guaranteed a new representative with Councilman George Thomas (Ward1) retiring and Councilwoman Ty Bell Lindsey (Ward 5) opting to run for mayor instead of a second term in her seat. Council members Romande Walker in Ward 4 and Joe Norwood Jr. in Ward 3 are also not safe as both face primary challengers on the Democratic ticket.

 

In the mayoral race, incumbent Jimmie Smith is heading into a four-way Democratic primary after which the winner will face both Republican Stephen Boxer and Independent Jimmie Copeland in the general election in June.

 

Out of the six primary races, Ward 2 Councilman Dwayne Davis is the only candidate to be unopposed in the primary; however, he will face Kyle Waller, an Independent, in June.

 

Regardless of the outcome, Meridian’s government will look much different in July than it does now, and it is up to the city’s residents to help guide it in the direction they want the community to go. Whether it’s concerns about crime, a drive for greater economic opportunity, modernized infrastructure or just passing a balanced budget, Meridianites have an opportunity to make their wishes known and vote for the candidates they believe are best situated to make those dreams come true.

 

We encourage all eligible voters to make a plan to get to the polls and take part in the April 1 election. For those who will be out of town or otherwise occupied, absentee voting is ongoing through March 29 at City Hall.

 

Voting is not only a hard-won right, it is our responsibility, and it is especially needed this year.