Newly elected North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield and returning South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman expressed confidence in Vicksburg’s future as their large margins of victory became apparent Tuesday night.

Mayfield, 47, said he will work with Beauman and incumbent Mayor Laurence Leyens.

“The key is unity – that’s why the people elect you,” he said. “It’s all about the City of Vicksburg – it’s about the people and should have been from day one. We’re going to do great.”

Mayfield, in his third term as Warren County District 2 supervisor, said his 2,641 votes in the North Ward over independents Vickie Bailey, who received 753 votes, and Tommie Rawlings with 114 votes, was “overwhelming.” He had defeated three-term incumbent Gertrude Young in May 3 primary voting.

Beauman, 57, nearly duplicated his South Ward victory of four years ago over his Democratic challenger Pam Johnson, 39. He garnered 2,605 votes to 931 for Johnson who had advanced to the general election by defeating DaVon Grey, 46, in the primary.

Beauman, who defeated Johnson in 2001 by more than 2,000 votes, expressed “real excitement” over his victory, but said it would have meant nothing without a victory by incumbent Leyens in the mayor’s race.

“I just feel so strongly about possibly serving a second term with him because we have so many infrastructure projects to be finalized and more work to do,” Beauman said.

The newly re-elected Beauman spoke of the need to expedite projects such as the consolidation of the youth and adult sports complexes and landscaping projects in areas of the city annexed more than a decade ago.

“We’re 15 to 20 years behind on improving the infrastructure of those areas of the city,” he said.

Mayfield said he plans to address Leyens and Beauman with some of his own ideas, which include doing more work in neighborhoods.

“There has been a lot of work downtown and I have no problem with that,” he said. “But, we must get inside the community. Eighty-five percent of the people I have spoken with told me – we must work inside the community.”

North Ward alderman candidate Bailey, 37, director of the Jackson Street Community Center, previously ran for South Ward alderman in 2001 and 1997. She said, despite her loss, she felt she was more on target with the people’s interests in her campaign than Mayfield.

“I don’t understand Vicksburg, but it’s an election of the people,” she said. “They chose Mayfield and I congratulate him on his victory. It goes with the territory – you put yourself out there…it’s the will of the people.”

Rawlings, 42, said he gave it his best shot during his campaign for North Ward alderman – and lost 8 pounds in the process.

“I tried – I talked to everybody,” he said. “Obviously they didn’t think I was right for it.”

Rawlings will continue with his job as a construction worker.

“I’ve got a good-paying job that I will go to in the morning,” he said.

Bailey said she’s not sure she will stay in Vicksburg due to the election results.

“It’s stagnant,” she said. “It’s not progressing like I would like. I might be moving on to look for something more progressive.”

Johnson attributed her loss in the South Ward to general contentment among the electorate.

“They were obviously happy with the current administration. To everything in God’s plan, there is a time and a season,” Johnson said.

Mayfield will resign as District 2 county supervisor in order to be sworn in July 4 as Vicksburg’s North Ward alderman.

The county board will have 10 days to appoint a temporary replacement for Mayfield and will call a special election for the first Tuesday in November.