Ashlea Mosley has enjoyed performing in the melodrama, “Gold in the Hills,” for the past three years. Mosley continues her hobby while pursuing a higher goal of the South Ward Alderman post. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[03/12/01] After three years in “Gold in The Hills,” Ashlea Mosley is accustomed to being in the spotlight, but now the 18-year-old says she is ready for another challenge; filing as the youngest person ever to seek an elective office in Vicksburg.

Mosley turned 18 four days before last fall’s presidential vote, just in time to cast her first ballot, but during the last city elections four years ago, she was not yet old enough to drive a car. There are 15 candidates for Vicksburg’s three elective offices. Mosley wants to be South Ward alderman.

“I’m not just one to sit around and complain,” she said. “I want to get out and try to change things.”

In many ways, Mosley seems like a typical teen-ager looking ahead to the rest of her life. She has ambition to be a school teacher someday and is looking forward to getting her own place.

Running for office is not just about proving that an 18-year-old can, she said, but about the issues. Her platform includes improving area roads, downtown development, tourism and preserving history.

Before she can get into office and work on those goals, Mosley said she will have to overcome another challenge, people who think she is too young.

“I am a registered voter and I am a citizen of Vicksburg,” she responds. “I did what was required of me to qualify. I did this door to door, in the rain, and I am proud of every step I took.”

Mosley attended Vicksburg High School, where she was on the swim team, until her sophomore year when she became ill and missed two months.

She left high school with the support of her parents and continued her education at home. Last year, she passed the state G.E.D. and said she plans to go on to college.

“My generation is the future,” she said. “We’ll be running the country some day and we should start participating now.”

Getting people involved in bettering the city is the main theme of Mosley’s campaign. Already, she has encouraged her family to join her in the Vicksburg Theatre Guild’s seasonal performances of the melodrama “Gold in The Hills.” Her mother, Talitha, plays Lizzie; her 12-year-old sister, Danielle, is a can-can dancer and her 9-year-old brother, Harold, plays Tommy.

“It’s fun to be a part of something like that,” she said.

On the March 2 filing deadline, the South Ward had the largest field of candidates, and still does even after Royce Eaves, 69, dropped out.

Pam Johnson, 35, owner of a local hair salon; and Carl Marshall Upton, 41, a self-employed electrician will be in the Democratic primary May 1. On that same day, Sidney H. Beauman Jr., 52, director of the city’s parks and recreation department, and restaurant manager Sam Smith, 37; will face off in the Republican primary.

Primary winners will advance to face independents Mosley and Vickie Bailey, 33, assistant director of the city’s Department of Youth Services, on June 5.

“I’m not going to say that I’m not scared,” Mosley said. “If I did, something would be wrong with me.”

In other races, incumbent Robert Walker, 56, is seeking a third term as mayor, but first he will have to face Eric Rawlings, 38, in the Democratic primary.

The winner of that race will go on to face independent candidates Laurence Leyens, 36, Joe Loviza, 61, and Eva Marie Ford 63, in the general election.

In the North Ward alderman’s race, two-term incumbent Gertrude Young, 45, is being challenged by business owner Rodney E. Dillamar, 41, and retired educator Jo Pratt, 67, in the Democratic primary.

The winner will advance to face Sylvester Walker, 40, in the general election.