Municipal elections may not be the most exciting, but they important. Think about the variety of issues that local government officials vote on or have power over: taxes, garbage collection, budgets, dilapidated properties, crime. The list goes on and on.

While state and national elections tend to get the most attention, it’s the outcome of local elections that directly impacts you the most. And every vote counts.

Below are the candidates running for offices in Brookhaven and Wesson. We encourage all eligible voters to cast a ballot today.

On the ballot in Brookhaven:

Mayor — Republican Joe Cox (inc.) and Democrat David Smith.

Ward 3 — Independent LaMareo “Big Moe” Brown and Democrat Mary H. Wilson (inc.).

Ward 6 — Republican Gene Buckles,  independent Shelley Harrigill, Democrat David McCoy and independent Harold Rowe.

Alderwoman-at-Large — Democrat Marilyn Dow-Harris and Republican Karen Sullivan (inc.).

Police chief — Democrat Kenneth Collins and Republican Jason Gaskin.

On the Wesson ballot will be:

Mayor — Rosa Harris, Alton Shaw (inc.) and Marty Stroud.

Ward 1 — Mike Douglas (inc.) and Larry Hall.

Ward 2 — Jarrad Ashley, Dirk Chrestman and John Welter (inc.).

Alderman-at-Large — Stephen Ashley and Ric Crockett (inc.).