It’s coming down to the wire for the would-be statesmen ofMonticello, with several uncontested races but one big chair up forgrabs.

Monticello City Clerk Deborah Lea said this year’s election isnot as heavily contested as in past years. In the 2005 election,four of the six offices were contested, with one race pitting fivecandidates against each other for a single ward.

This year Mayor David Nichols is challenged by former Englishteacher Richard “Ricky” Sykes and Monticello resident JoanParkman.

The only other contested race in Monticello is between incumbentWard Three Alderman James Wilson and challenger Martha Watts, whoowns Watts Insurance Agency.

Incumbent aldermen Jerry Goode of Ward One, Steve Moreman ofWard Two, Kevin Garrett of Ward Four and Craig David of Ward Fiveare running unopposed.

Lea said in spite of there only being two races to be decided,she expects to see plenty of people at the polls on Tuesday.

“We should have a good turnout because we have a contestedmayor’s race, that’s the one that’s the most talked-about rightnow,” she said.

She said overall, Monticello residents seem pretty pleased withtheir government, and that could be why there were no challengersin the other four wards.

“I think there’ll still be a turnout, but I think people seem tobe pretty happy that nobody else came in on the other races,” shesaid.