For the first time in 17 years, Collierville will have a runoff election, not just for one office, but two seats on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The runoffs, scheduled for Dec. 8, are required by the town charter as a candidate did not earn more than 50% of votes cast in Position 3 and the unexpired term of the late Tom Allen in Position 4. 

Incumbent alderman John Worley captured 45% of the votes for his Position 3 office, while challenger Harold Booker received 43%. The difference between the two was less than 700 votes, according to Shelby County Election Commission’s unofficial results.

A runoff was expected in Position 4 as six candidates were seeking to replace Allen. Missy Marshall received 31% of the votes cast for the office, and William Boone received 27%, the top two finishers in the race. According to the unofficial returns, 1,069 votes separates the two.

The counts are unofficial until certified by the commission.

Stamps wins reelection in Collierville; runoffs to decide two alderman seats

Turnout is expected to be a key in the runoff elections. Historically, such second races for an office don’t draw near the voters as the first run for office, especially since Tuesday’s election was headed by the presidential race.

Candidates are encouraging voters to return to the polls. Incumbent Worley emphasized local politics are important, and he hopes residents are encouraged to vote for those managing taxpayer dollars.

“This affects them just as much as a federal election,” he said. “It’s their day-to-day lives that are affected (by a local election).”

He said aldermen look at funding police, fire, schools, parks, paving roads while keeping the tax rate low. But Worley doesn’t believe he has an edge in the runoff as an incumbent.

“The way I look at it, beginning (Wednesday), we are starting at zero,” he said. “We’ve got to get back out there and earn every vote. All of us have a responsibility to get the town educated to get out there, vote and make the decision best for Collierville that the residents want.”

Booker thinks residents will vote in the runoff because they want to see Collierville head in a different direction.

“People want change as to who is the current alderman,” Booker said, although he didn’t want to say much about strategy.

He hopes voters return to “solidify change.”

“The race numbers were so close that people are sending a message saying they want change,” he said. “I was a nobody. Two months ago no one had heard about me.”

He said he plans to stress the importance of returning to vote. 

“There is momentum,” he said. “People want a change … In order to have change I need (residents) to come out and reflect that in the vote. I gotta hit the ground running.”

 Marshall and Boone are among six who sought the remaining two years of the late-Tom Allen’s term. Allen died over the summer.

Marshall is thankful for the “faith, family and community” aspect of the campaign and knows it will carry through the next few weeks.

“I think these local elections are just as important as our federal (and) state elections because your local leaders work with your state leaders on a regular basis,” she said.

She feels she is equipped for the aldermanic role and is running because she wants to see more women in leadership.

“I’d like to earn the votes of the citizens in order to use my professional experience and leadership abilities in order to preserve the quality of life we all love and appreciate here in Collierville,” she said.

Civic engagement is a priority for her campaign and she wants to continue to educate residents and encourage them to vote on Dec. 8.

“My efforts will be focused on educating the citizens of Collierville on the importance of coming back out to vote.”

She appreciated Boone’s effort and his hard work.

He said people have to understand the importance of what they’re facing. 

“They’re having a deal where you don’t have the voice you used to have.” Boone said. “This is the time to change. … People voting the way they did, tells you they want a change.”

He said Collierville has some issues people see and the numbers speak to that.

“They’ve got to use that vote button as their voice,” he said, claiming there needs to be diversity on the board.

Boone believes more people will come out because Allen, his friend, “was a voice for the people.”

The Election Commission must still certify the results later this month at a special called meeting. Linda Phillips, Shelby County administrator of elections, said the meeting will likely be next week.