By Jason C. Mattox

Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey will enter a second term in July after his only challenger withdrew from the mayor’s race.

Republican challenger Ed Allen, who would have faced Autrey in the June 2 general election, withdrew from the race late last week.

Allen, the former owner of Batesville’s Best Pizza, was making his second run at municipal office after being defeated in 2005 for the alderman-at-large position.

Autrey is presently serving his first term as city mayor.

Allen’s departure leaves only three contested races on the Batesville ballot:

•    Ward 2 Alderman Rufus Manley will face developer Ted Stewart in the May 5 Democratic Primary.

•    Ward 3 Alderman Stan Harrison, a Democrat, is being challenged in the primary by Percy Bruce, whom Harrison defeated for the right to fill the unexpired term of the late James Yelton.

•    Ward 4 Alderman Bobbie Jean Pounders has no competition in the Democratic primary but she will face the winner of the Republican primary in the general election.

Eddie Nabors and Kenneth Williams are vying for the top slot in the May 5 GOP primary.