Starkville’s Ward 1 alderman seat is set to become the first board-level position challenged in next year’s municipal election cycle as Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jason Camp confirmed he will run against incumbent Ben Carver in May’s Republican Primary.
Camp, 28, is the second non-incumbent to declare his intent to run for an alderman position prior to the start of the qualification period beginning Jan. 3.
“One of the biggest things Ward 1 deserves is an alderman that is present for votes, represents the ward and is accountable, and those are the biggest things I can contribute,” he said. “I fell in love with our neighborhood, and I want to keep it a family friendly place to enjoy for years to come. If I want to make Starkville a great place, then I have to be active.”
Next year’s election cycle will feature two Mississippi State University Extension Center for Government and Community Development instructors: Camp and Patrick Miller, a 26-year-old Democrat running for Ward 5’s position. Miller also serves on the city’s planning and zoning commission.
In his position, Camp helps with training tax collectors, assessors and other government agents.
A Banner native, Camp holds a master’s degree in public policy and administration from MSU. He and his wife, Kristy, moved to Starkville in 2007 and reside in the Green Oaks subdivision with their 3-year-old daughter, Molly. They are members of Starkville First Baptist Church.
His platform includes protecting Starkville’s family friendly neighborhoods to ensure they’re safe, affordable and well-maintained; operating the city’s budget in a conservative manner while understanding tough decisions must be made with limited resources; engaging residents to become more active in the board’s decision-making process through ward meetings; improving infrastructure through long-term planning processes; and creating an efficient and business friendly economic development policy that adheres to residents’ desires.
“I’ve been preparing (for the race) for a while now, and it’s a decision my wife and I are confident about,” he said. “I’ve been visiting with many ward residents for a while now. I feel like I’m doing the right thing.”
Other ward races
Six of Starkville’s seven aldermen will seek re-election next year, while Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard will conclude his first term on June 30 and exit public service.
Incumbents running again are Carver, Lisa Wynn of Ward 2, David Little of Ward 3, Jason Walker of Ward 4, Roy A. Perkins of Ward 6 and Henry Vaughn of Ward 7. Camp and Miller are the only non-incumbents that have confirmed their upcoming board-level campaigns to The Dispatch.
Mayoral race
Former Starkville Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill and local attorney Johnny Moore will face off for the city’s mayoral position next year, but it is still undetermined if they will compete in May’s Democratic Primary or June’s General Election.
Spruill, a 64-year-old Democrat who served as mayor of Addison, Texas, from 1988-93, declared her intent for office last week, while Moore, 56, did not say under which party’s umbrella he would run while announcing his intent earlier in the month.
Like Maynard, Mayor Parker Wiseman previously announced he would not seek a third term.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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