Mayoral race shaping up to be uncontested
With four days to go before the qualifying deadline, it’s looking like incumbent McMinnville Mayor Royce Davenport may be able to save money on campaign signs this year as no one has thrown their hat in the political ring to challenge his return to office.
The same, however, will not be true for the three aldermanic spots up for grabs this year as four candidates have already qualified to run with two more possible contenders waiting in the wings. The top three vote-getters in the Nov. 2 city election will be elected to the at-large aldermanic spots.
Qualifying to run are incumbents Jimmy Bonner and Patti Nunley. They are joined by challengers Rick Barnes and Gary T. Hillis. Two other candidates, including incumbent Donald Hillis, who has indicated he will likely run, and former alderman Rickey Jones, have qualifying papers. Jones actually holds papers to run either as an aldermanic or mayoral candidate, but has not revealed which, if either, office he will seek.
Several rumored opponents such as former Mayor Dr. Norman Rone, Col. Thomas B. Vaughn and Donald Hillis, have already ruled out running for mayor.
“Candidates still have until noon on Thursday to return their completed petitions to get on the ballot,” said Election Administrator Donna Yates.
While qualifying continues, Davenport is not the only mayor not facing opposition thus far as Morrison Mayor Bobby L. Prater, serving the unexpired term of the late Mayor Harris Jacobs, is the only person to qualify thus far for the Morrison mayoral duties.
The same is true in Viola where incumbent Kevin Lawrence is the only candidate to qualify for the mayor’s race. William S. Ramsey is the sole qualifier for the Viola aldermanic race. Four candidates, Sue Anderson, Travis Battles, Martha Sue Jones and Charles C. Ware, have qualified for the Morrison aldermanic race.