STARKVILLE — Four last-minute qualifiers have thrown more city races into contention, with new challengers in the races for mayor and Wards 3 and 6. These round out 15 qualifiers for city races by Friday’s qualifying deadline.
Roger Bassett, 79, is running for mayor as a Republican.
He told The Dispatch Friday that he was born and raised in Starkville, moving around Virginia and Tennessee for work but eventually coming back to settle in Starkville during his semi-retirement. He said he ran a business selling office machines and served the Shelby County government in Memphis, Tennessee, as a deputy sheriff and the head of office security, overseeing government buildings and managing up to 40 security officers.
Bassett said he is running to bring more business to Starkville and repair streets, the condition of which is a “pet peeve.”
“I just think Starkville needs to move in a different direction,” he said. “We need to convince investors to come into Starkville. Small industry needs to be coming to town. We need more shopping. … I’m a down-to-earth person, a people person. I’ll talk to the citizens about what they need.”
A total of four candidates are running for mayor, with Charles Yarbrough and Brenna Hunter Betts challenging incumbent Lynn Spruill in the Democratic primary and Bassett awaiting the winner in the general election.
Party primaries are April 1 and the general election is June 3.
Ward 3
Newcomer Laurel Lynn Rowse, 40, is running for alderwoman as a Democrat.
The Minneapolis native moved to Starkville in 2020 after graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Florida, she told The Dispatch. She said she’s lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, Tampa and Boston, and has spearheaded a wide variety of civil engineering and management jobs, including work for Mississippi Department of Health and the state drinking water revolving loan fund managing $25 million in loans. She also said she was one of the authors of the American Society of Civil Engineers report card for Mississippi’s infrastructure released in November.
Today Rowse works as an engineer for AECOM specializing in water and wastewater treatment, managing projects and drawing up blueprints. She said she’s not ready to publish a policy platform at this early point, though she did specifically mention pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure.
“We need some change in leadership at the municipal level, particularly in Ward 3,” she said. “There are things Starkville at the municipal level is doing great in. … I have Democratic values, that’s why I’m running, and I will have more to share as the campaign gets started.”
James Kyle Skinner, a Republican, is also running for alderman in Ward 3. Skinner did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Skinner challenges incumbent Jeffrey Rupp in the Republican primary, and the winner will face Rowse in the general election.
Ward 6
Tomeka Rhine, 52, is running for alderwoman as a Democrat.
She told The Dispatch she’s a Starkville native. She works as a case manager for Prayer Opportunity incorporated, a community action agency. She has a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology from Mississippi State University.
Rhine said she’s running because she’s concerned about the direction her ward is going, and will consult with community stakeholders to determine a policy platform that best represents them.
“I’d like to have some improvement in our area,” she said. “I will sit down with some people and go over things with the people in my community. I will listen to them, and understand what it is they want to see done.”
Rhine challenges incumbent alderman and Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins in the Democratic primary.
Other races finalized
Incumbent Henry Vaughn is facing challenger Nedra Lowery in Ward 7. Both are Democrats, and the primary winner will take the seat.
In Wards 1, 2, and 4, incumbents Kim Moreland, Sandra Sistrunk and Mike Brooks, respectively, are running unopposed. Moreland is an independent, while Sistrunk and Brooks are Democrats.
Newcomer William Pochop, an independent, is running unopposed for the Ward 5 seat. Incumbent Hamp Beatty is not seeking reelection.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
