The Gulfport mayoral race has yet another wrinkle.
Two weeks after Democratic mayoral candidate Sonya Williams Barnes was defeated by Republican Hugh Keating, and four days after the results were officially certified, Williams Barnes has requested an inspection of the ballots cast in the race.
Keating clipped Williams Barnes by 829 votes in the general election and is readying to be sworn into office in less than two weeks.
Williams Barnes, who was aiming to become the first Black woman to take the Gulfport mayor’s seat in city history, made it clear that she was not contesting the results of the election, but simply carrying out the final step of a fair process.
“I wish my opponent all the best and congratulate him for his victory. I am grateful to the voters and to all the elections workers who worked this election for the people,” Williams Barnes said in a letter to Gulfport City Clerk Rashida Bell, which was released publicly.
“I’m requesting to exercise my privilege to canvass the ballots this week in this post-election wind down, pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated 23-15-911, which is one of the final steps of the post-election process.”
Under the Mississippi law cited by Williams Barnes in the letter, candidates have the right to request a ballot inspection within 12 days of the certification of an election. Keating will also be able to monitor the process, which is yet to be scheduled by the city clerk’s office.
The request comes at what is likely the end of a contentious political battle between Williams Barnes and Keating for the long GOP-controlled municipality, which included both Democratic and Republican representatives of both sides lobbing election tampering accusations at the other.
Mayor-elect Keating is due to be officially sworn in as mayor on Monday, June 30.
