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By Nichlos Cutrell & Brent Maze

This past Tuesday the city of Selma had their runoff elections for multiple wards, one city school board seat and the mayor election.

Johnny Moss III won the mayoral election with 57% of the vote gaining 2,368 votes compared to Aaron Roper’s 1,779. Moss has currently served as the president of the Selma City Schools Board of Education and currently serves at Wallace Community College Selma in the Office of Marketing & College Relations.

Moss said he was excited and tired after the long campaign season.

“You know, when you go into the runoff, you start all over. It’s just a condensed campaign season in four weeks,” Moss said. “I’m just so relieved, I am tired but elated that the citizens decided to choose me as the next Mayor of Selma.”

Roper in a social media post offered congratulations to Moss on his victory and on becoming the next Mayor of Selma.

“Though I was not successful in this election, I remain deeply grateful for everyone who supported me and believed in the vision we shared for this great city,” Roper said. “Now, it’s time for us to come together.

I respectfully ask all of Selma—including those who stood with me throughout this campaign—to unite behind our new Mayor. Progress only happens when we move forward together, and Selma deserves our full commitment, no matter the outcome of the race.

This city is home, and I will continue to serve and support. Let’s work together to build a stronger, more united Selma.”

Moss said he was taking the day off Wednesday to recover, but he plans to begin the transition of power with current Mayor James Perkins Jr., who said earlier in September that he would make the transition smooth for the new mayor.

“I look forward to meeting with Mayor Perkins and his team over the next few weeks to develop a transition plan,” Moss said. “I’ll start kind of putting my team together as well. And hopefully we can sit down and talk about how to move the city forward with a smooth transition.”

Moss also offered his congratulations to Roper on a good campaign over social media Wednesday. Moss said he felt like whoever won would do a great job for the city.

“He ran an awesome race. He actually pushed me. And so I want to thank him for that,” Moss said. “There were two great candidates, and I think Selma couldn’t have gone wrong with either candidate, but I’m the chosen one at this point. And so we’re going to move the city forward.”

Moss felt like his message of unity resonated with voters.

“I think I just had a concise plan,” Moss said. “I think unity was the main pillar of my plan, and also cleaning the city up, preventing crime through opportunity. But I think the unifying message was the one that made the difference.”

Moss said he is looking forward to working with the community.

“Just know that I’ll be doing whatever it takes to move our city forward, and I will have the city’s best interests at heart,” Moss said.

Selma City Council and School Board runoffs

For Ward 1 of the Selma City Council, Troy Harvill retained his seat on the city council by gaining 431 votes to Charles Bennett’s 344 votes.

In Ward 5 Nadine Sturdivant was elected to the city council by gaining 72% of the vote with 447 votes compared to Timfeit Drane’s 173 total votes. She is replacing retiring Ward 5 Councilman Samuel Randolph.

Ward 6 saw Ashley Ervin gain a seat with the city council. Ervin gained 293 votes earning 64% of the vote beating incumbent Atkin Jemison.

For the Selma school board District 4 seat, Brittany S. Houser gained 565 votes over Dr. Tanya S. Miles 416, unseating the incumbent and becoming the new board member on the Selma school board.