Citizens in the Sarullo Circle neighborhood just southeast of the Beauchamp Highway 82 East intersection should have received notice from the city of Greenville by now that they are no longer part of Ward 5. Back in May, the Greenville city council approved a redistricting of the city which placed residents of Sarullo, Genoa, Naples, Turin, and South Beachamp into Ward 2.
Although the redrawing of electoral boundaries has been in effect for several months, many residents of the area were unaware of the change. “We just voted for the city council in 2021,” one resident said. “And now because we’re in a new ward, you mean to tell me that two years later, we’ve got to vote for city council again? I’ve been in this house since 1970 and we’ve always been Ward 5.”
When the residents last voted for city council representatives, Ward 5 was on its regular rotation along with Wards 2 and 4. It stands to reason that residents were confused a bit when they began to see campaign information from candidates normally associated with Ward 2. Because of the staggered process, this year’s municipal election has wards 1, 2 and 6 open for elections. “We mailed out notices to everyone in the area yesterday,” said city clerk Amelia Wicks on Friday September 22. “We have a list of all of the impacted addresses and they should be receiving notice in the next day or two about the changes.”
The municipal election is October 2 and the new residents of Ward 2 who onced voted at Ward Recreation Center will now vote at the Elks Lodge 1818 East Alexander Street.
Elections for Oct. 2 include:
In all wards voters will choose between Bridgett Grayson-Winters and Errick D. Simmons (Incumbent), for Mayor;
In Ward 1, Incumbent Council Member Al Brock is running unopposed;
In Ward 2, voters will choose between Roderick M. Bell, Patrick Lamar Ervin and Lois Hawkins (Incumbent) for council member; and
In Ward 6 voters will choose between Tyrone Cook, James Wilson Sr. (Incumbent) and Chauncy Wright for council member.
See sample ballots inside.
