Mayoral candidates qualify in Houston cities

The race is officially on for mayor of Warner Robins.

Joe Musselwhite, the city’s former public works director and runner-up in the last mayoral election, was the first to qualify Monday. Later in the morning, Mayor Randy Toms qualified to run for re-election to a second term. City Councilman Chuck Shaheen said at the last council meeting he plans to run for mayor, but he did not qualify Monday.

Qualifying continues through Friday.

Jim Taylor, a parks activist who works for Warner Robins Building Supply, qualified to run for Shaheen’s at-large Post 1 seat. Jeffery Walker, a previous unsuccessful council candidate, qualified to run for Shaheen’s seat.

The mayors of Centerville and Perry, as well as council posts in each, are up for re-election. No incumbents in those cities had drawn challengers as of late Monday afternoon, while most of the incumbents qualified.

In Centerville, Mayor John Harley and Post 1 Councilman Cameron Andrews qualified. Post 2 Councilman Randall Wright did not qualify. Qualifying for Centerville runs through Wednesday.

In Perry, Mayor Jimmy Faircloth qualified for re-election. Also, Councilwoman Phylis Bynum-Grace qualified for her District 1, Post 1 seat, Councilman Robert Jones qualified for his District 2, Post 1 seat and Councilman Randall Walker had qualified for his District 3, Post 1 seat.

Qualifying is at the city halls of Centerville and Warner Robins while the Houston County Board of Elections is handling Perry’s election.

An earlier version of this story stated incorrectly that Centerville Councilman Randall Wright qualified Monday. He had not qualified as of early Tuesday morning.

This story was originally published August 21, 2017 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Mayoral candidates qualify in Houston cities."