By John Howell Sr.
and Jason Mattox

Pope voters selected three new aldermen in the Tuesday General Election.

Larry “Bud” Fisher, Kenneth “Ken” Powell, and Ricky Brown were among the top five recipients of votes cast. They will join incumbent aldermen Farris “Bud” Green and W. T. Rikard.

Mayor Ricky Briscoe was unopposed in his bid for another term.

According to municipal executive committee member Frances Ashcraft, Green received 36 votes, Fisher 34, Powell 32, Rikard 31, Brown 29 and Margie Clarke 12.

All Pope aldermen are elected at large.

Green is employed at Dunlap and Kyle Company; Fisher at Big Delta Honda; Powell is retired from UPS, Rikard is a retired trucker and Brown is an electrical contractor.

The new officials are scheduled to be sworn in to their four-year term of office on Tuesday, June 9.

In other municipal elections around the county:

•    In Como, incumbent Alderman-at-Large Forster Ruhl will receive his first full term after defeating John Walton 251-230.

Ward 3 incumbent Ruby Higgenbottom defeated Margaret Porter Wilbourn 77-50.

•    In Sardis, there were no contested races on the ballot, but 108 votes were cast to determine the fate of a proposed three-percent tourism tax.

The tax passed 72-36.

The tax will be imposed on food, beverages and lodging in the city.