WESSON – Three new aldermen will sit on the town board beginningin July after two incumbents were defeated and one did not seekanother term in final, but unofficial, results of Tuesday’selection.

In the Ward Four alderman race, incumbent Hollis Cowen Jr. wasunseated by local business owner Bobby Britt, while incumbentRobert Derrick was defeated by retiree Kenneth Roberts in WardOne.

Hardware store manager Van Graham was unopposed to fill theposition of alderman-at-large, which has been held by David Douglasfor three terms.

Ward Three Alderman Lura Greer received 52 votes in defeatingchallenger Billy Ellison, who had 41 votes. Mayor Alton Shaw andWard Two Alderman John Welter Jr. were unopposed.

Newcomers to the board said they’re eagerly anticipating theirchance to serve the town.

“I’m looking forward to working with the mayor and thealdermen,” said Roberts. “I think if we work together we can moveour little town forward.”

Ward One had a close race as Roberts gathered 28 votes, DianeKeys had 26 votes, Andi Farrish received 14 votes and incumbentRobert Derrick had 11 votes.

Roberts retired after 33 years at Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege, where he headed up law enforcement on the Wessoncampus.

Another longtime Wessonite, Graham is looking forward to whatthe board will be able to do in the next four years.

“It’s just an exciting time for Wesson,” he said.

Britt, who has a number of business ventures in the Wesson area- the most recent being an assisted-living home – also wants to seethe town prosper.

“Wesson’s ready for a change, and I think we can make someimprovements,” he said.

In the Ward Four race, Britt received 71 votes, incumbent Cowenhad 32 and R.G. Dube gathered 10.

Prior to the ballot count at town hall, Douglas thanked thevoters for allowing him to serve the town for 12 years.

“I really enjoyed it,” he said.