By Billy Davis

The winner of a May 5 Republican primary in Batesville will take on a longtime public official, Alderman Bobbie Jean Pounders, in the June 2 general election.

The party primary, and the face-off with Pounders, pits two political rookies, Eddie Nabors and Ken Williams, against a well-known elected official.

Pounders, a Democrat who did not draw a primary opponent, has represented Ward 4 for 16 years.

In 2005, she comfortably defeated a primary opponent, then a second opponent in the general election, to retain her seat.

The May 5 Republican primary is an “open primary” in Mississippi, meaning registered Democrats in Ward 4 – not just Republicans – can vote for Nabors or Williams.

Ward 4 voters will cast a ballot at Batesville City Hall.

Nabors, 55, operates Video South, a court deposition business, along with wife Erin and their son, Sam. They have two other grown children, Nick and Laura. The Nabors family lives at 214 Pine Lake Drive.

Williams, 46, owns J&W Construction, a remodeling company and lives at 200 Pamela Street with wife Cindy and their six children.

In separate interviews, both Republican candidates avoided negative comments about the incumbent alderman, instead describing their vision for city government.

Nabors said his video business takes him to many other states and towns, and the sight of small towns “withering away” helped convince him to run for public office.  

“I’m not saying we’re in danger of withering away. There aren’t any red flags,” Nabors said. “I would just like to see Batesville’s best face presented. We need to maintain our infrastructure and keep it viable.”

Nabors also said he was encouraged by A.R. Robinson, the well-known Tractor Supply manager, who has described Batesville’s enviable location at Interstate 55 and Highway 6.

Batesville’s location at Highway 6 and I-55 is a “natural asset” that would be utilized with smart, long-term planning, he added.

Williams said he has been considering a run for public office since the 2005 election.

“I just don’t see a lot being done,” he said, suggesting that the city’s parks need improvement.

Establishing a parks commission should be a goal of city government, he also said.

Asked what he is telling Ward 4 residents on the campaign trail, Williams said, “I’m listening to what the people are telling me.” 

Williams added that Batesville’s elected officials should be listening to their constituents more often. He cited the controversial parking ordinance, which aldermen later repealed, as an example.

The board of aldermen, with the urging of Mayor Jerry Autrey, had introduced a residential ordinance that required automobile parking on a hard surface. Before the ordinance went into effect, it was rescinded amid a backlash from the public.

“They should have talked to the people in their wards before they voted for that,” he said. “I’m telling the people in Ward 4 that I will not hide if they call me.”