STARKVILLE — Kim Moreland won a special election Tuesday to represent Ward 1 on the board of aldermen.
She easily defeated Timothy Bush by a 155-38 margin to claim the seat. She replaces Ben Carver, who was elected to serve District 1 on the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors and resigned as alderman Jan. 2.
Moreland will join the board of aldermen Tuesday. She will be sworn in at 5 p.m. before the 5:30 meeting.
Moreland has represented Ward 1 on the planning and zoning commission for about four years. She also previously served on the board of adjustments and appeals. Professionally, she is a licensed general contractor and manages rental properties, among other duties.
She told The Dispatch Tuesday evening that she was excited about her victory.
“I’m ready and able,” she said. She referenced her appointments to other boards and said the board of aldermen “was the next stepping stone. I’m very excited.”
This will be the first time the board has two women in its ranks, with Moreland joining Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk.
“I just feel like as long as the best person is in place. If a woman is the best person for the position, I feel that’s who should be elected,” she said. “But it is exciting to have two women.”
Moreland told The Dispatch Thursday she had no immediate judgments on pending policy issues, such as the debate over the city’s proposed camera ordinance, until she had all the information that is available to aldermen.
“What I plan on doing first is just getting my feet wet, understanding the processes, and figuring out what I see as a problem,” she said. “Everything from the outside looking in is different.”
Moreland also praised Bush for the quality of his campaign.
Bush, a customer service supervisor at Mississippi State University and an associate minister at Starkville’s Second Baptist Church, told The Dispatch Wednesday he was thankful for those who came out to support both candidates.
“It was a wonderful experience,” he said. “The poll workers did wonderful. … Everything went fine.”
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