CELINA-Early voting has ended in the city election here, with election day set for Tuesday, June 2, and the HORIZON will have election results posted on its website that night. 

Early voting ran through May 28 and as of late last Friday afternoon, 226 voters had cast early ballots in the city races, election officials said.  That would be on pace similar to 2005, when the election turnout was up considerably from 2001. 

Four years ago, 663 voters cast ballots in the mayor’s race, and there was a total of 1,616 votes in the aldermen’s race, where voters can cast ballots for up to three candidates. Only 378 votes were cast in the city election eight years ago. Election officials said there are 1,270 eligible voters this year.

There are three candidates for mayor and six for the three aldermen slots on the ballot this year, with three of the four incumbent officeholders running for re-election. 

Incumbent mayor Buddy Thompson is challenged by Willie Kerr and Rush Rich, while in the aldermen’s race, two incumbents are seeking re-election, and will be challenged by four more candidates.

Longtime incumbent alderman Donnie Long and fellow alderman Don Haston are both seeking re-election, while vice-mayor Elwood Irvin chose not to run again. 

Long and Haston will be running against Pat Burton, Bill Donaldson, Joey Locke, and Zac Dale. Winners in the election will take office on July 1.

Election results on Tuesday night

Unofficial city election results will be posted on the HORIZON website as soon as possible on Tuesday night, general manager Kevin Donaldson said.  

“We will have the election results posted there absolutely as early as we can,” Donaldson said. “You won’t have to wait eight days after the election to get the results.”