Qualifying for November municipal elections in Barnesville and Milner closed Wednesday and, when the smoke cleared, there were two contested races to be placed on ballots in the county seat.
Incumbent Ward 1 councilman Bill Claxton will do battle with challenger Christopher Deraney. Claxton is also currently serving as mayor pro tem and filling in for mayor Peter Banks who is recovering from a heart attack and subsequent procedures. The council annually chooses the mayor pro tem.
Additionally, ward 3 incumbent Sammie Shropshire drew opposition from political newcomer Andreas Romero.
Kelly Hughes was the only qualifier in the mayoral race and, barring the emergence of a write-in candidate, will become mayor in January. Mayor Banks did not seek reelection.
MILNER:
Provided no write-in candidates enter the fray in Milner, no election will be needed there. Milner operates under a unique plurality system in which those who get the most votes fill the available seats.
In that current member Christopher Ponder did not qualify, Milner had three open spots with Ponder’s being one. Incumbent Rickey Fallings qualified to retain his post. The other seat was vacated by Regina Stephens some months ago
In addition to Fallings, newcomers David Selstad and Emily Vining qualified and will take the other two posts.
Once the write-in deadline has passed, Milner can officially cancel its Nov. election, city administrator Tausha Grose said.
Meanwhile, election day in Barnesville is set for Nov. 7.
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