Qualifying has come to a close, leaving all five of the City of Pelham's council seats with races, as two current city councilmen, Maurice Mercer and Rick Wash, are going head-to-head for the position of mayor.
Each of the city council positions is elected "at-large" or city-wide. The three remaining councilmen are running for reelection.
According to the latest campaign finance reports, Mercer has raised $20,790.19 and has $12,530.27 on hand, while Wash has raised $9,501.00 and has $5,632.47 on hand.
Mayor Gary W. Waters announced last year that he was not running for reelection, paving the way for an open race.
Last August, Mercer announced on his Facebook page, "After a lot of deep thought, prayer, and discussions with my family, I'm excited to share that today I’m officially starting an exploratory committee to consider a run for Mayor of Pelham. I’ve been reflecting on the direction of our city, and with the support of those closest to me, I feel a calling to serve our community in a bigger way."
Wash also announced his intentions to run via Facebook in October, saying, "It is finally time to put the rumors to rest. After much prayer and heartfelt discussions with my family, I am honored to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Pelham in 2025. This decision follows the confirmation that my good friend Mayor Gary Waters will not seek re-election. Please consider praying for my family and me as we embark on this journey to lead our community in its best direction. As a current City Councilman, I am excited to continue serving our community as I run for Mayor of Pelham in 2025."
The City of Pelham lists the following candidates for municipal elections:
Mayor
- Maurice Mercer
- Rick Wash
Place 1
- David Coram*
- Michelle Power
Place 2
- Will Blake
- Chad Leverett*
Place 3
- Cathy Cartagena
- Chris Townes
- Tim Reddock
Place 4
- Darius Foster
- Ron Griggs
- Markus Snowden
Place 5
- Russell Platt
- Michael Harris*
*Incumbent
Details of the election can be found on the City of Pelham elections website. The election will be held on August 26, with a run-off for the races that require one on September 23. Newly elected municipal officials take office on Monday, November 3.
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