By Billy Davis and Jason Mattox

With three weeks gone since qualifying began, mayors in Batesville and Sardis have yet to draw a challenger in Mississippi’s coming municipal elections.

The mayors in Crenshaw and Como, meanwhile, have competition.

 Incumbents and their challengers have until March 6 to turn in qualifying papers to town hall.

Municipal elections in Mississippi are scheduled for May 5, a primary contest. Run-off elections, if necessary, will fall on May 19.

A general election is scheduled for June 2, but municipal races in Panola County, like county races, are usually decided during the primary since most officials register as a Democrat.

First-term Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey has qualified for re-election along with aldermen Teddy Morrow, Stan Harrison, Rufus Manley, and Bobbie Jean Pounders.

Only Alderman Bill Dugger has yet to turn in his qualifying papers.

Harrison, who represents Ward 3, has drawn opponent Percy Bruce.

Manley, who represents Ward 2, has drawn opponent Ted Stewart.

Sardis Mayor Rusty Dye, a former city alderman, is seeking a second term as mayor. Among the five-man board, only Alderman-at-Large Roy Scallorn had qualified for re-election by presstime Thursday.

Challengers in Sardis include Ricky Armstrong and Clarence Jones, who are both seeking the town’s Ward 2 seat. The seat is currently held by first-term alderman Rufus Smith.

Smith narrowly defeated Jones in the 2005 election.

Como Mayor Judy Sumner, who has not qualified for re-election, has drawn challenger Andrew Cook.

A second Como challenger is John Walton, who will run for his old alderman-at-large seat.

Como residents know Walton’s name well. He was certified as the winner in 2005 before the election outcome was challenged by his opponent, Dr. Forster Ruhl. After a two-year court battle, the election results were overturned in circuit court.

A second former alderman, Tonia Heard, has qualified to run for Ward 1 alderman. She was defeated in 2005 by Clark Gregory.

Former Crenshaw mayor Oscar Barlow has qualified to challenge Sylvester Reed, who defeated Barlow to win the mayor’s seat.

Alderman Milton Phipps, who has been ill for some time, apparently won’t seek re-election. His wife, Katherine, has qualified to run for his Ward 5 seat.

 In other Crenshaw races, incumbents Alberta Bradley and David Whitsell have also qualified.