Election day in Talladega

Talladega residents will go to the polls Today to elect a mayor, City Council and Board of Education.

Shirley Simmons-Sims has already been confirmed as the winner of the Ward 1 seat on the school board, and Councilman Ricky Simpson was likewise unopposed for council Ward 4. Every other seat is being contested.

The office of mayor will be the only one that residents of each of the city’s five wards will have an opportunity to vote for. The candidates are incumbent Larry Barton, Vann Caldwell and Jerry Cooper.

Residents of Ward 1 may not have a choice regarding their school board representative, but incumbent Councilman Horace Patterson is being challenged by Saundra Bellamy and Katie Reynolds. Ward 1 voters will cast their ballots at the B.N. Mabra Center.

In Ward 2, incumbent Jarvis Elston is being challenged by former fire Chief Kenneth Dickerson for the council seat, while incumbent Juanita Curry McClellan faces off with Mary McGhee for the school board. McClellan beat McGhee in the last election cycle.

These votes will be cast at the Brecon Recreation Center.

In Ward 3, incumbent Councilman Donnie Miller is being challenged by Tom Lutchendorf and David Street. Incumbent BOE member Bonnie Miller is not running for reelection, leaving Martha Livingston, Jake Montgomery and Katrina Thomas vying to succeed her.

In the Ward 4 school board race, incumbent Elizabeth Smith will face Chuck Roberts.

Residents of Wards 3 and 4 will vote at the Spring Street Recreation Center.

The Ward 5 council contest is between incumbent Joe Ballow and Gerald Cooper Sr. The board race is between incumbent James Braswell and Wanda Duncan. These voters will go to the Bemiston Recreation Center to cast their ballots.

One candidate in each race must capture more than 50 percent of the vote or face a runoff with the candidate in second place Oct. 6. Winners begin their terms Nov. 4.

Polls Tuesday will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be a canvassing meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1 at noon at City Hall to certify the votes and to deal with any provisional ballots that may be cast.