Mayoral Race Possible in Madison

Madison Municipal Republican Executive Committee will determine whether Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler will have her first opponent in 16 years. Craig Denson, a former international business consultant for the Mississippi Development Authority and now president of his own consulting firm, failed to mark a box indicating that he meets all
requirements to hold the mayor’s office when he filed qualifying papers last week. The local GOP committee will determine if Denson’s name will be on the Mary 5 primary ballot. Denson said the omission was an honest mistake. Hawkins-Butler is seeking her eighth straight term and has not had an opponent since 1993. Local GOP Executive Committee Chairman Jerry Williams says the committee has asked the secretary of state’s office for guidance.