Brookhaven voters go to polls Tuesday to make their firstchoices in party primaries in this year’s municipal elections.

“We’re expecting a very good turnout,” said City Clerk IrisRudman.

Nine of 11 elected offices are being contested this year. Rudmanand City Tax Collector Pat Duckworth are unopposed for re-election,Rudman to her fifth term and Duckworth to her fourth.

With only two candidates in the Democratic primary and noRepublicans, two races are assured of being decided Tuesday.

Either Assistant Police Chief Arlustra “Pap” Henderson or Lt.Bateman Stilley will be elected Chief of Police. The winner willsucceed Fred McKee, who is retiring.

In Ward 1, incumbent Dorsey Cameron’s lone opposition is DonaldDixon. Cameron is seeking a second term in office.

Runoffs in other primaries, where needed, will be May 15. Thegeneral election is June 5.

James Tillman, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee,agreed with Rudman on voter participation expectations forTuesday’s first primary.

“I believe we’ll have a real good turnout,” he said. “Any timeyou have the mayor, chief of police and so forth, people will comeout to vote.”

Democratic primaries will be held in all six city wards butthere will be a Republican primary only in Ward 4, where three GOPcandidates are seeking the alderman’s post. There are Republicancandidates for alderman in Wards 5 and 6, but they areunopposed.

“There won’t be a Republican party primary in Wards 5 and 6,”Rudman said.

The two-primary system presents Ward 4 voters with a choice.They can either vote in the Democratic primary to participate incity wide elections for mayor, alderman at large and chief ofpolice or they can vote in the Republican primary and cast a ballotonly for alderman.

Rudman said there is no “cross-over” voting. Also, a person whovotes in one party’s first primary will not be able to participatein the other party’s run-off primaries on May 15.

“You can’t vote for a Democratic mayor and a Republican aldermanof Ward 4,” she said.

Tillman said there has been a lot of interest in this year’sraces for aldermen. Despite the Republican race in Ward 4, he waslooking for Democratic participation there.

“I’m not sure, but I think we’ll do pretty good,” Tillmansaid.

Ward 4 voters will cast their ballots at Brookhaven Elementary.Ward 5 voters will vote at the old fire station in the chamber ofcommerce building, which also happens to be in Ward 4.

Rudman said the reason for Ward 5’s voting place being at thechamber building is because there is no public place suitable forelections in Ward 5.

“We’ve always had it there,” Rudman said about thesituation.

Rudman also pointed out that Tuesday’s elections will take placeat city voting locations instead of county voting precincts usedduring state and federal elections.

“That’s very important,” Rudman said in emphasizing thedifference.

City voting locations are printed on voters’ registration cards.Voting locations for Tuesday are:

* Ward One – Cloverdale Acres administrative office

* Ward Two – Alexander Junior High School Auditorium

* Ward Three – Brookhaven-Lincoln County Government Complex

* Ward Four – Brookhaven Elementary School

* Ward Five – Old Fire Station behind chamber of commerce

* Ward Six – Mamie Martin Elementary School

In case a voter shows up at the wrong place to vote, Rudman saidtelephones will be at each of the voting precincts to help directvoters to the proper locations.

The phones will also be used to help in situations where aperson’s name is not in the voter poll book. If a person is not inthe book, he is supposed have to vote via affidavit ballot.

“If it’s just a clerical error, they will not have to voteaffidavit,” Rudman said.

In addition to the high-profile city races, voters will also bechoosing members of their parties’ executive committees. The11-member committees are in charge of running primaryelections.

“It’s a matter of procedure,” Rudman said. “They have to be onthe ballot if you have a standing committee.”

The 11 committee nominees in both parties are unopposed.

Democratic committee nominees are Jesse Buie, Leatrice Buie,John B. Case, Jewell L. Davis, Fannie S. Diggs, Danny Hallman,Willie Harrison, J.W. Morgan, John A. Sartin, James Tillman andSherry A. Washington.

Republican committee nominees are Ernie L. Clark, Bette ClarkDixon, George H. Gulley Jr., Louise McDonald, Steven L. Melancon,Robert V. Panzica, James H. Perkins, Patricia Lonsdale Perkins,David William Phillips, Alvin C. Smith and William DennisValentine.