The race for McMinnville mayor is presently a one-man show as Alderman Jimmy Bonner has decided to withdraw his name from the ballot.
“People were confused about why I was running for both alderman and mayor,” Bonner said after he officially had his name taken off the mayoral ballot Thursday. “They didn’t think I should run for both.”
Bonner will remain on the alderman ballot alongside fellow incumbents Mike Neal and Ben Newman, both of whom have submitted their qualifying papers and will be on the November ballot.
“Maybe later on,” Bonner said of a future mayoral candidacy, “but right now I think I’ll focus on alderman where I’ve been for eight years.”
With Bonner’s departure from the mayor’s race, incumbent Jimmy Haley faces no opposition in his bid for reelection. However, there are still six days left to qualify as the deadline falls at noon next Thursday. There is presently no one who has picked up qualifying papers for mayor.
Former Mayor Norman Rone, who was defeated by Haley four years ago, says he is not going to enter the mayor’s race.
“I know there’s been talk about it, but I’ve decided not to run this time,” said Rone.
There will be a contested race for alderman as four people have already qualified for the three spots available. Along with incumbents Bonner, Newman and Neal, a political newcomer has qualified for the ballot as Kate Medley Alsbrook is looking to send one of the incumbents home. Three other potential candidates, David Hill, Joe O’Neal and John Shields have picked up qualifying papers.