Four new candidates qualified in aldermen races on Friday, including two Republicans in Ward 5.
Friday was the final day to enter the 2021 municipal races.
Anna Chaney and Brady Hindman both filed last-minute paperwork before the 5 p.m. deadline. They will face off in a Republican primary in Ward 5, where the Democratic primary will feature incumbent Hamp Beatty and Joe Evans.
Chaney, 32, is a Booneville native who has lived in Starkville for about 10 years. She has served as a full-time instructor of interior design for three semesters in the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art and Design. Before that, she was an adjunct instructor and designed commercial furniture for Flexsteel.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from MSU and a master’s from Ball State University, both in interior design.
Chaney said she had not even considered seeking public office until recently, after some of her neighbors convinced her to run.
“I’m far from a politician, but I think that’s a good thing because I can look at our ward through an unbiased lens,” she said.
As alderman, Chaney said she would focus on being a voice for all of her constituents and making sure her ward was seeing an equitable return for its residents’ tax dollars. She also will advocate for a “more transparent” city government.
“If we have learned anything over the past year, it’s the role of true transparency in government,” she said.
Chaney said she wants to promote recruiting private investment in redeveloping the Highway 182 corridor that will see the area flourish without increasing taxes.
Hindman, 28, is the owner of the Commodore Bob’s Yacht Club restaurant and Bob’s Bottle Shop liquor store, both in the Cotton District. The West Point native has lived in Starkville for seven years.
While he said he wants the city to keep unnecessary spending to a minimum, he would like to emphasize public safety and increase public parking options.
“I’m just ready to make a difference in my community,” Hindman said. “I want to keep people informed of what’s going on and give people a voice instead of them just being ignored.”
Party primaries are April 6. The general election is set for June 8.
Brice Stubbs runs in Ward 2
Brice Stubbs qualified Friday as a Republican in Ward 2, making him the third candidate to enter that race.
In the general election, he will face the winner of the Democratic primary between incumbent Sandra Sistrunk and Jimmy Joe Buckley.
Stubbs, 39, has lived in Starkville for more than 20 years and is the retail sales manager at Triangle Drywall Supply. He volunteers extensively with the Scouts of America.
He said there are issues, such as water and sewer upgrades and adequate leadership at the parks, that were deferred for many years before finally being addressed in recent years. Still, there are more things that need to be done, especially in addressing aging infrastructure.
“It’s a lot of simple things that are adding up as far as affecting the quality of living in Starkville,” he said. “We’ve been knowing these problems have existed for a long time. Our citizens deserve better than that. … Our ward needs a voice that’s more apt to its needs.”
Stubbs said he wants to promote safe neighborhoods, small business growth and youth involvement. He believes the city should form a committee that works with the police chief to develop a multi-faceted approach to combating juvenile crime.
“There’s not just one way to fix that, but we sure as heck ought to try,” he said.
Santee Ezell challenges Perkins in Ward 6
Santee Ezell qualified in Ward 6 and will face seven-term Democrat Roy A. Perkins, who serves as vice mayor, in the April primary. The primary winner will claim the seat, since there is no Republican or independent running.
Ezell, 33, is a Calhoun City native who has lived in Starkville for eight years. She works at MSU in the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness overseeing domestic violence prevention. She founded the nonprofit Black Girls Rock of MS, which supports young girls through workshops, outreach and community service.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Mississippi in sociology and a master’s from Delta State in community development with an emphasis on sustainability.
As alderman, she said she would focus on “quality of life” issues, specifically developing “walkable, bikeable, livable communities.”
“Since COVID has happened, I think it has built a greater sense of community in our city,” she said. “I want to make sure all of our community members have access to what Starkville has to offer.”
Ezell said she also wants to “be there” for the citizens of her ward.
“I’m a public servant first,” she said. “I think that’s important for Ward 6 and the rest of the community to see.”
Other races
Other competitive races for which qualifiers filed before Friday include Democrat Mike Brooks and Republicans Austin Check and Kevin Daniels running in Ward 4; and Republican incumbent Ben Carver facing Democrat Christine Williams in Ward 1.
Mayor Lynn Spruill, Ward 3 candidate Jeffrey Rupp and Ward 7 incumbent Henry Vaughn, all went unopposed.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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