Candidates Announced for City of Jackson 2023 Elections

(April 26, 2023 s:44 PM ET) The City of Jackson today announced the candidates for its upcoming 2023 elections.  

First term Mayor Daniel Mahoney will face challengers Laura Dwyer Schlecte and John Wilson in the August 8 primary.  Both Schlecte and Wilson ran against Mahoney in the 2021 primary, with Wilson advancing to the November 2021 general election.  Mahoney was elected by a vote of 2,077 votes to Wilson’s 1,745 votes.

Schlecte will be giving up her 4th Ward council seat by running for mayor.  Incumbents Martin Griffin, Treasurer and Councilmembers Freddie Dancy and Will Forgrave are seeking reelection.

The City Clerk’s Office has confirmed the following candidates have successfully filed for the offices that are up for election this year.

MAYOR

Daniel Mahoney

Laura Dwyer Schlecte

John Wilson

TREASURER

Martin Griffin

WARD 2

Peter Bormuth

Freddie Dancy

WARD 4

Diane Toman

Conner Wood

WARD 6

Stephen Ansuini

Will Forgrave

There will be no primary election for City Treasurer or races in Wards 2, 4 and 6 because only two or less candidates filed. These offices will be decided in the Tuesday, Nov. 7 election. A Citywide primary for Mayor will be held on Tuesday, Aug 8. The top two candidates with the most votes will advance to the Nov. election.

Council seats in Wards 1, 3 and 5 are not up for election until 2026. Due to recent changes approved by the City Council, the candidate elected Mayor in 2023 will serve a three year term until 2026, and the Treasurer and Councilmembers will serve five year terms until 2028. These changes were made earlier this winter to re-align City elections so they would happen the same years as Gubernatorial and Presidential election cycles. Changing elections from odd-numbered years to even years will save the City money and increase voter participation in City elections. City of Jackson elections are non-partisan.