A clean slate: Thompson and Bailey unseat both incumbents in June 3 election

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Willis Thompson and Vickie Bailey have won against both incumbents by a margin of less than 100 points each in yesterday’s Vicksburg municipal election.

In the unofficial numbers for the mayoral race, Willis Thompson received 1,770 votes, incumbent George Flaggs received 1,709 votes, and Kasman Massey received 546 votes.

In an interview after the final count came in, Willis Thompson said he was thankful that the citizens of Vicksburg believed that change was possible.

“I’m grateful for all the support,” said Thompson. “Thank you for friends, family, and people that believed that change was possible. I look forward to bringing our best to City Hall.”

Thompson also thanked Mayor Flaggs for his service over the past twelve years for the city.

“I have a lot of respect for Mayor Flaggs,” said Thompson. “I served four years with Mayor Flaggs, and [I’m] grateful for the service that he’s rendered to the city of Vicksburg. I just take my hat off to anybody who gives their time and energy to public service, ’cause it’s a lot. You have to give a lot, and it takes a lot from you.”

In a brief interview after the election, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said that he was proud of the race he ran.

“This town has served me well, and I’ve done a great job,” said Flaggs. “I don’t have anything to hang my head down. I took a lot of blame, now. My dad would have been proud of me for the way I ran the race I ran, because I ran it with honesty and dignity and straight ahead. All I can say now is I created the pathway to the future, and we’ll see where it goes.”

Kasman Massey congratulated the winners in a Facebook post last night.

“Congrats to the winners of tonight’s race!!” said Massey. “It’s been a long road, and I know that everyone is happy to have this behind them and the knowledge that has come from it!! Tonight has shown you that it’s so important that we appreciate and respect our right to vote. Thank you to all that have supported my campaign. I am beyond grateful.”

Incumbent Alderman Alex Monsour received 1,014 votes, losing to Vickie Bailey with 1,089 votes in the Ward 2 race, with a difference of 75 votes.

Ward 1 Alderman T.J. Mayfield ran unopposed, receiving 1,743 votes.

The vote counts are unofficial until certified by the Municipal Election Commissioners.