Vicksburg’s open Ward 1 alderman seat will be filled by either Thomas “T.J.” Mayfield or Daryl Hollingsworth, as the pair now officially head toward a runoff on Thursday, May 30.

Vicksburg City Clerk Deborah Nickson on Wednesday released the final tally of votes after affidavit ballots were added to the totals. Mayfield, who maintained a strong lead throughout the process, finished as the leader in the race with 552 votes. Hollingsworth narrowly edged out Kevin L. Winters Sr., as the pair finished with 165 and 159 votes, respectively.

Mayfield, who is the son of the late Ward 1 Alderman Michael Mayfield Sr. – whose death in March opened the vacancy on the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen – said after the May 9 special election that he looks forward to finishing his campaign.

“It’s exciting,” Mayfield said. “Of course, it’s another three weeks that we have to beat the pavement and work to get the people out to vote again. I’m appreciative to the people who did come out to vote for me. To my opponents, there’s no ill will. And to anybody who supported me or didn’t support me, I hope I can get your vote in three weeks.”

Hollingsworth also said he will keep promoting the message he has campaigned on since the election’s start.

“My heart’s with the city, so I just want to get back in there and see if we can find some more votes,” he said.

The special election’s rules stipulated that if no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff would take place between the two candidates receiving the most votes in the special election.

The official tally for all candidates in the May 9 special election included: Mayfield, 552 votes; Hollingsworth, 165; Winters, 159; Charles Selmon, 126; Bobbie Bingham Morrow, 120; Gregory E. Bingham, 43; Michael Anthony Gates, 40; Jamma F. Williams, 38; Warren Jones, 21; Joseph Everette Williams Jr., 19.