FRANKLIN COUNTY – With Mayor Gregg Tindle’s decision to not seekre-election, Meadville will have a new mayor later this year whileBude voters will making choices in several contested mayoral andalderman races in that town, officials said following Friday’squalifying deadline for elected offices.

Tindle, who was an alderman for three years before being electedmayor, served 21 years in the town’s top office. He said he had noregrets about leaving at the end of June, adding he did not want tostay too long in office.

“I felt like it was time to get out of it and put new blood init,” said Tindle, 63.

Meadville’s next mayor will be long-time Alderman W.P. “Sonny”Dickey, who is unopposed. Dickey, who was unavailable for comment,has served almost 20 years on the board of alderman.

“He will do a marvelous job,” Tindle said of Dickey, a formerteacher who now works in administration at the Franklin CountyHospital. “He’s very well-qualified.”

Tindle said there are not many towns with populations of just500 that are still thriving like Meadville is. He was proud of thatsuccess and credited the board of aldermen.

“I couldn’t have had a more perfect board to work with over thelast 20 years,” Tindle said.

With his retirement, Tindle will have more time to devote to hishobby of motorcycle riding.

“I lack six states from seeing all (the lower) 48 states,”Tindle said. “After I cease being mayor, I’m going to see if I canget those last six states in.”

In other town races, six candidates have signed up to seek fivealderman posts, which are elected at-large. Incumbents CharlesCalcote, Jack Hollingsworth Jr., Vanessa Walkers and Bat Jones areseeking additional terms in office while David Scarbrough and BobbyKelly are looking to join the board.

“We elect five and the top five vote-getters will be aldermen,”said City Clerk Debra King.

Across Highway 84 in Bude, Mayor Arthur Mac Littleton faces achallenge from Earl Case. Littleton is seeking a second term asmayor, said City Clerk Debra Wactor.

Several new faces will be joining the town’s board ofaldermen.

In Ward One, unopposed Lee J. Romero III will be the area’srepresentative after incumbent Michael Goss opted to not seekre-election. Ward Two is in a similar situation with incumbentGeorge Price not running and James C. Watts unopposed for theseat.

In Ward Three, incumbent Tommy Anthony Gibbs is unopposed forre-election.

A Ward Four race has incumbent Shanna H. Jackson facing LindaGail Green.

The alderman at large race is hotly contested between fourcandidates. Incumbent Norma Jean Kelly is seeking another termagainst challengers Grady Huff, Richmond R. Flowers and Gary BellJr.

Meadville’s and Bude’s races are nonpartisan and the winnerswill be decided in the June 7 general election.