Luck-of-the-draw decides alderman race

By Charlotte A. Graham, countyreporter@laurelleadercall.com

June 07, 2009 12:59 pm

— Incumbent Carolyn McFarland has been declared the winner of the Ward Two alderman’s race in Heidelberg.
Opponent Curtis Morgan said the decision came Friday when he pulled a blank piece of paper from a larger envelop.
“They took two pieces of paper and wrote alderman on one and left the other blank,” explained Morgan. “It took place at the City Hall. My opponent wasn’t there and I was given the honor of pulling from the envelopment.”
The procedure was necessary to break a 33-vote tie between McFarland and Morgan during the recent general election. Heidelberg Town Clerk Debbie Logan thought they would flip a coin to name a winner, but the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office ruled against that procedure.
“The candidates each had a 50/50 even chance to win,” she said Friday.
Although Morgan said he will not contest the results, he cited displeasure with the proceedings. “I didn’t think too much of the way it was all handled at all,” Morgan said. “I will just hang my hat on this one.”
But this doesn’t mean the retired manager of Mississippi Power Company in Heidelberg, is calling it quits in politics. “I was pleased with my showing in the election,” he said. “Voters have taken interest.”
Several attempts to talk to McFarland were unsuccessful. Seven calls were made to her residence, three of which were answered by a young woman who stated that McFarland was busy. The Laurel Leader-Call left messages requesting a return call, but has not yet heard from McFarland.
Logan said the town elected its remaining four aldermen without opposition.
Ward One Alderman Sam Richer, Ward Three Alderman Milton Jones Sr., Ward Four Alderman Dewitt Reed and Ward Five Alderman Thomas “Tom” Lewis all ran unopposed.