The field is final for the 2009 Brookhaven city elections,bringing out 27 candidates citywide to spin the wheel for who willspend the next four years steering the city.

Several holdouts qualified in the late hours of Thursday andduring the day Friday, which was the last day ofqualifications.

“It was a fast-paced day, but it went smoothly,” said DeputyCity Clerk Marsha Fairman.

Among the new qualifiers were Ronnie Bass for alderman at large,Darryl White for Ward Two alderman, Rhonda Bussey for Ward Sixalderman and incumbent Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell, allDemocrats.

Representatives for B.W. Pitts, who had turned in paperwork torun for police chief as an independent, submitted his petition with51 signatures. Fairman said the names would need to be verifiedbefore he is officially a candidate, but since all the paperworkwas in by the deadline he will qualify if the signatures all belongto registered city voters.

Meanwhile, two candidates also switched their affiliations atthe last minute, with Alderman at large candidate Karen Sullivanswitching to the Republican party from Independent, and Ward Threecandidate Brian Moore switching from Republican to Democrat.

“I’m not sure, but I believe that has something to do withstrategizing,” Fairman said of the party switch-ups. “It keeps thecitizens in suspense.”

And citizens are in suspense all right, with every racecontested except that of City Clerk. Current City Clerk Mike Jinksis running unopposed.

The mayoral race pits Board of Supervisors President the Rev.Jerry Wilson against Brookhaven police officer Sudie Palomarez inthe Democratic primary on May 5. The winner of that match will faceAlderman at large Les Bumgarner in the June 2 general election.

The race for police chief was uncontested until Friday whenIndependent Pitts had representatives submit his petition. He isrunning against current Police Chief Arlustra “Pap” Henderson, whois seeking his third term.

Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron, who is seeking his fourthterm, is challenged by Elisa Corley Jr.

Mayor Pro Tempore Terry Bates, who is seeking his sixth term inWard Two, will face fellow Democrats Vernastine Byrd, Darryl Whiteand Idella Sanders in the primary. Byrd ran against Bates in thelast election.

Just like Wards One and Two, Ward Three will be decided in theprimary as well. Democratic Incumbent Mary Wilson takes onRoosevelt Collins and Moore on May 5.

Ward Four will see a primary face-off between incumbentRepublican Shirley Estes and challenger Asem Zeini, and the winnerwill face Independent David Smith.

Incumbent Independent Ward Six Alderman David Phillips will beuncontested until the general election. Voters will choose betweenhim and the winner of the Democratic primary, which stacks upRobert Kenny against Rhonda Bussey.

The Alderman at large race will consist of a Republican primarybetween Sullivan and Terry Pappas, while Democrats L. Ralph Smithand Bass will square off in the Democratic primary. The primarywinners will meet in the June general election.

Fairman said employees of the city clerk’s office are glad toget the qualifying out of the way, but they won’t have much downtime.

“Our next step is to take a deep breath and get ready to orderabsentee ballots,” she said.