By Jason C. Mattox

When the qualifying deadline for the 2009 municipal elections passed Friday at 5 p.m., only one elected official in Batesville failed to draw an opponent.

Alderman-at-Large Teddy Morrow, presently serving his first term, has no opponent in the upcoming elections.

Mayor Jerry Autrey, meanwhile, has drawn Republican challenger Ed Allen, who turned in his qualifying papers Friday.

Allen has previously run for alderman-at-large. He may be best known as the former owner of Batesville’s Best Pizza.

Ward 1 Alderman Bill Dugger, who qualified as a Republican, will face Democratic challenger Cheryl James.

Ward 4 Alderman Bobbie Jean Pounders will face two Republican challengers, Eddie Nabors and Kenneth Williams.

Autrey,  Dugger and Pounders will face their respective challengers in the general election on June 2. All other races will be determined during the May 5 primary or the May 19 run-off.

Ward 2 Alderman Rufus Manley will face Ted Stewart.

Ward 3 Alderman Stan Harrison will again face off with Percy Bruce whom he defeated during a special election in 2007 to fill the unexpired term of the late James Yelton.

In Batesville, the following have qualified to run for their respective executive committees.

Democratic:

David Walker

Anne Walker

Willie King

Republican:

Charlie Dulaney

In Sardis, only three races are contested.

Alderman-at-Large Roy Scallorn will face the man he defeated four years ago, John Reed.

Ward 1 Alderman Joseph “JoJo” Still will square off with a familiar face in the form of John C. “Boots” Still who has run unsuccessfully for the seat twice.

Ward 3 Alderman Rufus “Bill” Smith will face challengers Rickey Armstrong and Clarence Jones.

Ward 2 Alderman Mike Wilson, Ward 4 Rivers McArthur, and Mayor Alvis “Rusty” Dye have no challengers.

Six candidates have qualified for the Democratic Executive Committee. Those candidates are Robert Wilkerson, Minnie Carter, Betty Conrad, Bonnie Smith, Mary McDowell and Betty Short.

In addition to the municipal offices, a three-percent tourism tax will be voted on by the people of Sardis.

In Crenshaw, Patricia Dotson has qualified to seek the Ward 1 seat with no competition.

Wardell Reed has qualified for the Ward 4 seat currently held by Shirley Morgan.

Ward 5 candidate Katherine Phipps, who is seeking the seat formerly held by her husband Milton, will face Ronnie Perry in the primary.

Ward 3 incumbent Alberta Bradley will face Dennis Handy. Ward 2 Alderman David Whitsell has no opponent.

In the Mayor’s race, Sylvester Reed has will face off against Oscar Barlow, the man he defeated for the position four years ago.

Democratic Executive Committee qualifiers in Crenshaw are Barbara Duncan, Dortha Henderson and Sissy Hudspeth.

In Como, Mayor Judy Sumner will face Mack Taylor and Andrew Cook.

Alderman-at-Large Forster Ruhl, who is running as an independent, will face the winner among Democrats John Walton, Rachel Powell and Bill Ford.

Ward 1 Alderman Clark Gregory will face Tonia Heard.

Ward 2 Alderman Bill Mitchell is un-opposed.

Ward 3 Alderman Ruby Higgenbottom will face independent challenger Margaret Porter Wilbourn in the general election.

In Ward 4, incumbent Everette Hill will face challenger Robert Mayes.

Running for spots on the Como Democratic Executive Committee will be Josephine Birge, Diedre Newman, Clifton Davis Jr., Arilla Kearney, Etta C. Gale, David Sledge Taylor, Randy Perkins, Kathy W. “Kacky” Mitchell, Mary Jane Hollis and Glenda Barber.