The Henderson-Vance Black Leadership caucus met Saturday, Sept. 6 to hear from candidates in the upcoming municipal elections and then offer endorsements.
There are four seats on the Henderson City Council up for grabs in the Oct. 7 election. Early voting in one week, Thursday, Sept. 18.
The at-large seats in Ward 1 and Ward 2 are on the ballot, as are the Wards 3 and 4 seats.
The caucus endorsed Geraldine Champion for the Ward 1 at-large seat, and incumbents Lamont Noel for the Ward 2 at-large seat, Garry Daeke for Ward 3 and Ola Thorpe-Cooper for Ward 4.
Caucus President Terry Garrison said he was pleased with how things turned out – the candidates in attendance thoughtfully answered questions posed to them and the audience was attentive and respectful.
Former judge and current Oxford City Commissioner S. Quon Bridges served as moderator. “I think his presence made a difference as well,” Garrison said.
Garrison said the voting members of the caucus went into a special session to consider which candidates to endorse and then returned to announce the endorsements.
The Ward 1 at large contest was very close, Garrison said. Geraldine Champion got the endorsement with 8 votes over challenger Kenia Gómez-Jimenez with 7 and incumbent Sara Coffey with 6.
“It doesn’t get much closer than that,” Garrison said.
Champion currently holds the Ward 1 seat, but filed for the at-large seat during the most recent filing period. Another challenger, Clementine “Tina” Hunter was absent from the forum. She didn’t receive any votes from the caucus.
Following is a breakdown of votes for the other three contests awarded by the caucus:
Ward 2 at large:
Incumbent Lamont Noel – 15 votes
George Mayo – 6 votes
Ward 3:
Incumbent Garry Daeke – 13 votes
Deryl vonWilliams – 5 votes
Jason Spriggs – 2 votes
Clifford High – 0 votes
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