Madison special election Tuesday for alderman-at-large seat

Madison special election Tuesday for alderman-at-large seat

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Madison voters go to the polls next week to fill the vacancy left by the death of Alderman-at-Large Warren Strain.

The special election on Dec. 15 is between Janice Jackson and Sandra Strain, Warren Strain’s widow endorsed by Madison Mayor Mary-Hawkins-Butler.

City Clerk Susan Crandall said that they have eight voting locations for six wards. She said that some voting locations are different for city elections and encouraged any unsure voters to contact her office to make sure they go to the right location.

“Some people will not be voting in the same place they did during the general election,” Crandall said. “If this confusing for anyone they should call us at city hall and we can make sure they go to the right location.”

Ward 1 residents will vote at either Madison Square Center for the Arts or New Life Baptist Church. Ward 2 residents will vote at Strawberry Patch House. Ward 3 residents will vote at Madison Community Center. Ward 4 residents will vote at either Victory Baptist Church or Northbay Clubhouse. Ward 5 residents will vote at Parkway Hills United and Ward 6 voters will vote at China Grove A.M.E. Church.

Her office will be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, for absentee voting.

State law requires a special election because more than six months remain in the current term of office. The term is set to end in the spring. State law sets the election process, the qualification guidelines and the timeline.

The qualifying deadline was Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Warren Strain died two months after a months-long recovery from a cerebral hemorrhage he suffered on Dec. 23, 2019. 

Sandra Strain, hopes to continue his legacy. 

“I got Warren’s blessing,” Sandra said. “I want the entire world to know that I got that sweet angel’s blessing.”

She said that her husband communicated his blessing when he “squeezed my hand so hard.”

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler gave her support shortly after Strain announced she would run for her husband’s seat.

Jackson grew up in Northeast Jackson and has lived in Northbay since 2006. She said she considers the City of Madison to be a “cornerstone of leadership” in Madison County. She said in her time in the area she has witnessed growth that appears to her to be escalating.

She said she sees the Alderman-at-Large position as “another level” of contact between the citizens of all city wards and their government. 

“I am very interested in local politics and am glad I qualified or their would be no choice in this election,” Jackson said. “If I do not win I plan to run again. This race is only for the last few months of the existing term.”

Jackson, an attorney, wanted to run for District 1 Election Commissioner in 2016, but her application was ultimately rejected because it was deemed to be too late. 

Jackson said that she turned in her paperwork with the requisite petition signed by 50 registered voters to the Circuit Clerk’s Office before the filing deadline. 

She said that she was under the impression the Circuit Clerk’s Office would then send the paperwork on to the Chancery Clerk for filing, though this was not the case and the paperwork did not make it to the Chancery Clerk’s Office on time. Following are city polling places:

Ward 1-A
Madison Square Center for the Arts
2103 Main Street
*West of Hwy 51.


Ward 1-B
New Life Baptist Church
385 North Old Canton Road
*East of Hwy 51.


Ward 2
Strawberry Patch House Auxiliary Building
7578 Old Canton Road


Ward 3
Madison Community Center
7454 Old Canton Road


Ward 4-A
Victory Baptist Church
420 Hoy Road
*All Ward 4 residents outside of Northbay subdivision.


Ward 4-B
Northbay Clubhouse
200 Bayview Drive
*Northbay subdivision residents.


Ward 5
Parkway Hills United Methodist Church
1468 Highland Colony Parkway


Ward 6 
China Grove AME Church
1060 Mannsdale Road






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