In a landslide victory, Macklyn Austin was elected to serve as Yazoo City’s next mayor during Monday’s municipal election.
Although the results remain unofficial with affidavit ballots to be counted as of press time, Austin’s decisive victory is by an overwhelming margin.
Less than 1,000 voters took to the polls Monday, earning Austin 813 votes against Independent candidates Woodrow Walker with 137 votes and Calvin Thomas with 22 votes.
Incumbent David Starling did not seek re-election for the mayoral post after his first term.
“I am extremely grateful for the support I received from the voters, the city, my family and my friends,” Austin told The Herald Tuesday morning. “I am 100 percent dedicated to fulfilling their dreams and wishes for a better Yazoo City. It’s time to get to work.”
The only other race on the ballot was for the Ward 1 alderman post with Deyoung Haymer securing the post with 229 votes against Independent candidate Carl Mitchell’s 56 votes.
A total of 990 votes were cast in this week’s general election. Yazoo City has 8,480 registered voters, which shows a low voter turnout of 11.67 percent.
The new Board of Mayor and Aldermen will include Austin as mayor with returning Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas with Ward 4.
Newcomers include Haymer with Ward 1, Pattie Taylor-Wright with Ward 2 and Zelda Baker with Ward 4.
The elected officials will be sworn in at the next city council meeting on April 13.
Deyoung
