By Billy Davis

A state election observer from the Secretary of State’s office will be in Como today as residents there elect their new mayor.

The election official was requested to observe Election Day, said a spokesman for the state office.

Como residents are choosing between Alderman Everett Hill and businessman Mark Lipscomb, a former town alderman.  

The two candidates are competing to finish the term of late Mayor Judy Sumner. She passed away January 9, setting up the special election.

Approximately 950 Como residents are registered to vote, according to City Clerk Scott Rhines.

Among current issues in Como are reducing lingering debt problems, which first came to light in 2007, and also refurbishing sewer and water infrastructure.

Como has been ground zero for election problems in the past, including in Sumner’s own bid for mayor in 2005.

She won office only after a circuit court judge ruled in 2008 that absentee ballots, which gave her opponent an eight-vote win, should not have been counted.  The 12 ballots had already been rejected before Como’s Democratic Executive Committee opened them. All 12 ballots went to her opponent.

A pair of Secretary of State observers was also present in Panola County in November during a special election for District 2 supervisor.

Secretary of State spokesman Pamela Weaver said the Election Day observance is part of the state agency’s effort to visit elections around the state and make an annual report to the Mississippi legislature.