The city election in Bude will take place Tuesday with nocandidates seeking the office of Ward Two alderman while nearbyMeadville will see all its incumbents slide into new terms whilerunning unopposed.

Bude Librarian Kathy Zumbro said the 2009 election in her townhas one of the slimmest ballots she’s seen.

Only seven candidates are seeking the five available offices inthe independent election. No one from Ward Two has shown interestin the seat of outgoing incumbent James Watts, who chose not toseek re-election.

“There’s usually a lot more people running,” Zumbro said.

There is, however, competition for the mayor’s chair.

Incumbent Earl Case will face challenger Arthur Mac Littletonfor the job of running the town. The only other contested race onBude’s ballot is that of Ward Three, where eight-year incumbentTommy Anthony Gibbs Sr., will face challenger James M. GriffinJr.

Alderman at large incumbent Grady Huff, incumbent Ward OneAlderman Jay Romero and Fannie M. Brown in Ward Four are allrunning unopposed.

The new Ward Two representative will be decided after theelection.

Mississippi Secretary of State Communications Director PamelaWeaver said in an e-mail Friday that Watts may or may not choose to”hold-over” until the board takes action.

The board may declare the seat vacant and appoint someone tofill the remainder of the four-year term. If a vacancy is declared,a special election will be held 30-45 days after thedeclaration.

Case said the winner of the mayor’s race – whether it be he orLittleton – will most likely call for a special election.

“We’ve already got people interested (in the Ward Two office)now, but this is way after the deadline,” he said.

There will be no such drama in nearby Meadville, where all sixincumbents are on their way to an easy re-election.

Meadville City Clerk Leslie Cupit said Mayor Sonny Dickey andat-large aldermen Vanessa Walker, Bart Hones, Bobby Kelly, DavidScarbrough and Charles Calcote are all running unopposed in thecity’s independent election.

Cupit said the all-unopposed election is abnormal for thecity.

“The last time there were a couple of others who ran and gotbeat by the current group, so this time it’s different,” shesaid.

When asked her opinion of why no challengers stepped forward inMeadville, Cupit’s answer was simple.

“Because they’re awesome,” she said of the incumbents.