Starting July 1, Ward 6 will have a new representative on the Columbus City Council.
Republican Jacqueline DiCicco unseated current councilman and Vice Mayor Bill Gavin in a landslide, 301-114, in the Republican primary for Ward 6. With no other candidates in the race, DiCicco will be unchallenged in the general election on June 8.
The Democratic primary for Ward 4 Columbus council seat is undecided with a 91-90 margin and up to three affidavit ballots still to be counted.
Former Ward 4 Councilman Marty Turner leads Pat Fisher Douglas by just one vote. Per state law, the Registrar’s Office must wait five days after the election to consider any mail-in ballots that come in, in addition to the three affidavits, meaning the race will not be decided for at least five days.
The winner of the Ward 4 primary will face independent incumbent Pierre Beard Sr. in the general election.
In Ward 1, Democratic incumbent Ethel Taylor Stewart beat challenger Tommy Jackson 193-79. Stewart will face another independent challenger, Kallie Phillips, in the general election.
Starkville
The Republican primary for Ward 4 alderman remains tied after ballot box and absentee votes were tallied Tuesday.
Austin Check and Kevin Daniels garnered 92 votes apiece, meaning it will be at least another week before the primary victor is named. City Clerk Lesa Hardin said four affidavit ballots need to be processed in that race, and by law the city must wait five days after the election on mail-in absentees that might still come in.
Hardin said the affidavits and any remaining absentees for Ward 4 would be counted starting at 4:30 p.m. April 13 at City Hall.
The Republican winner in Ward 4 will face Democrat Mike Brooks in the June 8 general election.
In the Ward 2 Democratic primary, incumbent Sandra Sistrunk cruised to a 167-89 victory over challenger Jimmy Joe Buckley. Sistrunk moves on to face Republican Brice Stubbs in the general election.
Anna Chaney took the Ward 5 Republican primary, beating Brady Hindman 119-61. Chaney will face Democrat Hamp Beatty in the general election.
Longtime incumbent alderman Roy A. Perkins won re-election in Ward 6, beating Santee Ezell by a 285-96 margin, according to unofficial totals. He will not face a general election challenger.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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