After 16-years as an alderman, Dorsey Cameron is headed into a primary runoff from behind.

On May 21, residents of Ward One will have an opportunity to grant Cameron a fifth term or opt instead to elect newcomer Randy Belcher as their city board representative.

The polls will open 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. at the Ward One precinct at the Cloverdale Acres administration building.

Only Ward One residents may participate in this runoff.

Both candidates are running on the Democratic ticket, and, with no Republican or independents candidates in the race, the runoff winner will go on to take a seat at the board of aldermen table.

In the May 7 primaries, Belcher came in first in the Democratic primary, garnering 40 percent of the vote.

Out of the five candidates vying for the post, Cameron came in second, with 36 percent of the vote.

The other three other candidates in the running all received much lower vote counts.

On May 7, 475 ballots were cast in the Ward One primary. There will be no other races on the ballot this Tuesday, though, so voter participation could be lower in the runoff.

Turnout may well be key to victory, with both candidates pushing hard to get their people to the polls.

Belcher and Cameron have run against other before. They faced off 16 years ago when Cameron won office for the first time. Now, Belcher is making his first stab at a rematch.

The challenger has been a deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for seven years following seven years with the Brookhaven Police Department.

Cameron works with CenterPoint Energy and has trumpeted his years of experience in city government as an alderman.