Voters in Brookhaven will soon get the chance at the polls to choose one person to represent their ward and another to represent the city at large.

Brookhaven, based on its population of  12,513, according to the 2010 Census, is divided into six wards with an alderman-at-large as well. An aldermen-at-large is paid an annual salary of $18.447.36, just like each of the aldermen.

Newcomer Troy Douglas hopes to unseat incumbent Karen Sullivan at the primary election May 2.

Sullivan, 75, of the 1000 block of Kraner Lane, faces Douglas, 36, of the 100 block of Pritchard Street. Both are running as Republicans.

Whoever wins the primary will face Democratic candidate Marilyn Dow-Harris at the general election June 6. Dow-Harris, who will be 60 Friday, lives in the 1000 block of North Jackson Street.

Troy Douglas

Douglas and wife, Ashley, have two children. Son Mikyle is 13 and daughter Aubree is 11. They attend First Baptist Church of Brookhaven.

He is employed by Gregg Office Machine Co. and Highway 55 Events.

Douglas, a native to Brookhaven, is a newcomer to the political arena. He said he is running for alderman-at-large because he wants to see the city develop to its fullest potential. While campaigning, he’s heard his share of gripes about what kind of city Brookhaven should be.

“Each person could name a list of ‘problems’ in the city,” he said. “Most of the issues that people in the city have come from information that may not be entirely accurate. Working and communicating with the people of Brookhaven would eliminate most of the problems that people complain about.”

Oak Hill Estates, a homeowners association, has been one of those issues. Oak Hill was annexed into Brookhaven, but the streets still belong to the association and the city won’t take possession of them until they’re brought up to standands. Until then, the city can’t repair the roads there.

“The road repair in Oak Hill Estates is an unfortunate example of bureaucratic red tape,” Douglas said. “The developer and the county Board of Supervisors — and I say Board of Supervisors because at the time of development this subdivision was not with in the city limits — should have collaborated with each other when this residential development was in the planning stages, but I don’t feel that I have enough accurate information on this subject to offer a solution.”

Douglas said that if he is elected, he plans to work with residents of Oak Hill, Moreton Estates, Lake View and Brignall “to see that all city services are brought to their neighborhoods.”

He continued, “It has been 10 years since the annexation occurred, and according to the City Clerk’s office, the annexed areas are only being taxed for the services they are currently receiving. The water and sewer in some areas are being held up by private land owners not accepting the city’s offers of purchasing land for the development of this infrastructure.”

He said these areas are serviced by police and fire along with garbage and debris removal from Waste Pro. “I do believe this should be a higher priority than some of the other projects that I’ve seen take place, but as with any major development, planning and funding take time,” he said.

Douglas is up against an opponent with a long history in Brookhaven.

Karen Sullivan

Sullivan, who has served two four-year terms as alderwoman-at-large, was married to the late Doug Sullivan for 46 years. He was a former Brookhaven High School football coach and former mayor of Brookhaven.

They are the parents of four children — Paige Sullivan Case, Penny Sullivan Martin, Susan Sullivan McLane and John Douglas Sullivan.  She is grandmother to four granddaughters with a grandson on the way.

She is an active member of First United Methodist Church.

She is a member of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce where she served as chair of the community appearance committee and the education committee.  She currently is a member of the community appearance committee and the creative economy committee.  She is a member and past president of the Lincoln County Master Gardeners. She served as chair of the Easthaven Cemetery beautification project. She was a member of the city’s Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee in 2008.   She has served as a member of Ability Works Advisory Board since 2015.  She organized the Vernondale Neighborhood Watch in 2010. She is a member of B.R.A.G. , Friends of the Library, and Mission Mississippi. She serves as president of the Rosehill Cemetery Restoration Foundation. She is a former Girl Scout leader.

As an alderman, she has received certification in all levels of municipal certification offered by the Mississippi Municipal League. With  the help of the city’s Healthy Hometown Committee, she researched and wrote the community’s health-related activities that led to the city being named one of Mississippi’s Healthy Hometowns in 2013 and Mississippi’s Healthiest Hometown in 2014. “These awards brought the city $75,000 for a new lighted walking trail and an ADA-accessible playground/park,” she said.

Sullivan also wrote a $100,000 MDOT Safe Routes to School grant which the city received in 2013 to build ADA-accessible sidewalks.

She taught in public schools for more than 20 years, retiring from Brookhaven High School in 2012.  With her husband, she owned and operated Sullivan’s Sports World for 20 years. 

Sullivan wants to be part of the larger, clearly-seen improvements and enhancements to the city. “I am pleased with the tangible advancements the board has made these last eight years, and I want to continue that work as well,” she said.

Blight is one of the biggest problems the city sees, she said. “One lot can drag down neighboring property values, discouraging people from investing in their own homes and deterring banks that could lend them money,” she said. “I’ve been all over this city since 2009, and I can tell you that we have made some noticeable headway into this problem.

“I have found that the enforcing of codes is a long, drawn-out  process. It often involves out-of-town owners, properties in foreclosure, and heirs to properties who have to be contacted individually,” she said. “I am always thrilled and appreciative when I see home improvement in any ward because caring for one’s home and yard can be contagious.  It can make a neighborhood want to keep up and do something about their own property.”

She said blight “provokes a certain behavior that seems to multiply” in those areas. “People who are used to seeing litter are more likely to litter,” she said. “Blighted lots become good places to hang out, to stash weapons or to use and sell drugs, and crime may be likely to follow.  I would say that blight is also connected to many other problems such as health, poverty, failure in school, failure to secure a job and economic development.”

Sullivan said the city is on target with its annexation plans.

“The day after the city annexed from seven square miles to around 21 square miles in 2007, citizens in the annexed areas immediately began receiving services such as fire protection, police protection, solid waste pickup, and garbage pickup, with recycling added at no extra cost a few years later,” she said.

The board is in the midterm phase, which should be completed by 2019. “It’s the largest, most comprehensive public works project I can remember,” she said.

It involves the implementation of new water and sewer systems in 14 areas and the purchase of surrounding water systems as well as the acquisition of more than 400 easements from residents. “At this point only 15 to 20 easements are lacking,” she said.

When it comes to Oak Hill Estates, Sullivan said the board must follow the law.

“We, as publicly elected officials, have the fiduciary responsibility to spend citizens’ taxpayer dollars in a legal and responsible manner,” she said. “Until the question of legal ownership of the road is settled, we, as your city board, would be derelict in our duty to the taxpayers to spend public money on possible private property.”

The winning Republican candidate will face Dow-Harris in the general election.

Marilyn Dow-Harris

Dow-Harris, 59, is married to Jimmy Harris and is the mother of LaDale McDaniel, Jimmy Harris Jr. and Chad Harris. She has three grandchildren.

She is a member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church, leader of Girl Scout Troop 3740, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Order of the Eastern Star, Ladies Auxiliary of VFW, PTA, Women Intermediate Auxiliary and Habitat for Humanity.

Like Sullivan, she is a retired teacher who received several recognitions for her performance in the classroom.

She is currently working in the Parent Center at Fannie Mullins Alternative School.

Dow-Harris said she wants to see change come to Brookhaven. “I believe new ideas and a fresh perspective is important for any community,” she said. “My campaign is about Brookhaven today, tomorrow and a generation from now. It is time for a new generation of leadership.”

She said the city’s growth should be accomplished in an orderly fashion “with its needs being met for fire protection, street improvement, sewer and water upgrades, and improvements of drainage issues.”

“I decided to run for the office of Alderman at Large to help in this process. My goals are to work with the mayor and other aldermen to help Brookhaven be the very best it can be.”

She said Brookhaven is a vibrant town with great people, a distinctive history and enormous potential for economic growth.

“I feel Brookhaven is at a critical point in these difficult economic times and a firm model of management is needed to continue guiding the city for maximum effectiveness,” she said. “I propose to role model proactive, responsive leadership and strong fiscal accountability.”

She said the needs of the city include lighting, roads, water and sewer improvements, more jobs for youth, more business on the east and north sides of the city, a public transportation system and the removal of nuisance properties.

She proposes that the city “finalize and complete the lighting, water, and sewer needs throughout the newly annexed city limits” and “clean up nuisance property to deter crime.”

She also wants to start a Youth Summer Work Program to employ high school and college students, and help foster more business for the areas lacking.

Dow-Harris said the solution for Oak Hill Estates is simple. “The solution is to repair the road in Oak Hill Estates,” she said.

“Being part of the city, there are certain things or services, and because annexation increased the city limits, I would make sure those services are in place for those areas.

“I would work closely with the mayor and board to brainstorm the best solutions and create a timeline to expedite completion in a timely manner. I plan to work to improve the infrastructure for future generations and build up our reserves.”