District 2 incumbent Bennett missing from candidates for November
A total of 11 people qualified last week to seek seats on Waycross City Commission in November’s Municipal Election.
Among the group were incumbents Shawn Roberts in District 1 and Katrena Felder in District 3, but not Sheinita Bennett in District 2. Those seats will be on the ballot in their normal election cycle along with the one for District 4 in a special election to fill the vacancy created with the death in late January of longtime Commissioner Diane Hopkins.
In a Facebook post Thursday, August 21, Bennett said she chose not to see re-election for job-related reasons.
Willie Oliver will be opposite Roberts on the District 1 portion of the November 4 ballot. Three people filed in District 2 — former Commissioner William Simmons, Barry Worley, and Ayana Moore.
Felder will have two opponents in District 3, Shawn Lamar Sanders and King Goree.
Three people will vie for the District 4 opening — William Tompkins, Tim Peacock and Linda Slaughter-Titus.
Sanders, Roberts, Tompkins and Felder each filed Tuesday, August 19, the first day of qualifying. The remaining candidates filed Friday, August 22 by the 4 p.m. deadline in the office of City Clerk Jackie Powell.
Qualifying fee was $288, which is three percent of a commissioner’s annual salary.
Roberts won his post last December in the runoff of a special election held following the death of longtime District 1 Commissioner Norman Davis in April, 2024.
Bennett and Felder were elected in the November, 2021 General Election.
Felder is the subject of a citizen ethics complaint filed last summer. A fiveperson Citizen Board of Ethics voted 3-2 ethics violations had occurred and recommended in December to the City Commission Felder be prosecuted in Municipal Court.
Commissioners, with Felder abstaining, accepted the recommendation earlier this year. After recusals by the Municipal Judge, Judge Pro-Temp and Solicitor, that action has been in the hands of a special prosecutor in Chatham County since June for review and possible prosecution with no timetable given for a decision.
Early voting for the city offices as well as that for Georgia Public Service Commission and a local Floating Local Option Sales Tax referendum will be October 14-30 at the board of elections office, 408 Tebeau Street. Hours will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on the two Saturdays during the period.
City residents registered by the close of business Monday, October 6 will be eligible to cast a ballot. Voting election day will be 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at city locations.
