City elections gained only one new candidate last week, but Ward4 Alderman John Roberts’ decision to run for mayor assures that theboard of aldermen will get at least two new members.

Roberts signed up late Thursday as the mayoral race’s onlyRepublican candidate. The alderman cited his 12 years experienceand service as mayor pro tem in his decision to seek higheroffice.

“This is a critical time in the future of Brookhaven,” Robertssaid. “I have the connections in Mississippi and in Washington tosecure the funding needed to complete important projects that arein progress.

“I have the vision to grow Brookhaven in the right direction,and the ability to pull people and resources together to make thosevisions become realities,” Roberts continued.

Roberts is the second incumbent alderman to pursue the mayor’spost.

Alderman-at-large Henry Newman is one of four Democratic mayoralcandidates. Others are incumbent Mayor Bill Godbold, the Rev. JerryDurr and Roger Ruffin Osborne.

Party primaries are scheduled for Tuesday, May 1. Runoffs, whereneeded, will be Tuesday, May 15, and primary winners will face offin the general election on Tuesday, June 5.

With Roberts’ qualifying, 30 candidates have now signed up toseek 11 elected city offices this year. The qualifying deadline isFriday, March 2.

Three candidates have signed up to replace Roberts as Ward 4Alderman. They are Democrat Jerry Case and Republicans BoyceBullock and Gary S. Boutwell.

Other offices and candidates (all Democrats unless noted)are:

* City Clerk: Incumbent Iris Rudman.

* City Tax Collector: Incumbent Pat Duckworth.

* Chief of Police – Arlustra “Pap” Henderson and BatemanStilley.

* Alderman-at-large – Les L. Bumgarner, Mrs. Jerry L. Wilson andDonna Wilkerson.

* Ward 1 Alderman – Incumbent Dorsey Cameron and RooseveltCollins.

* Ward 2 Alderman – Incumbent Terry Bates, Charlie Lee Smith,Rolanda Spiller, J.D. Watkins and Billy Simon

* Ward 3 Alderman – Incumbent the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson andClarence B. “Doc” Johnson.

* Ward 5 Alderman – Incumbent Tom Smith.

* Ward 6 Alderman – Incumbent John E. “Buddy” Allen, LeroyHewitt, Billy G. Carson, Nell Beeson and Republican KeithPeden.