Citizens of Greenville and McKenzie opted to keep their mayors for another term, while longtime Georgiana Mayor Lynn Watson will face opposition.

The deadline to qualify for the Aug. 24 municipal elections passed at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

When the clock ticked down, the upcoming races are as follows:

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon faces no opposition, who was humbled by the news he will be mayor again.

&uot;It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Greenville for the past four years, and I’m very honored and humbled that I will serve them another four years,&uot; he said.

&uot;I believe the last four years have been quite successful for Greenville and we have an extremely bright future ahead of us.

We will move forward from this.&uot;

The mayor could not remember an election in the last 16 years when the incumbent mayor faced no opposition.

He said unlike in years past, this means he can stay the course and keep on tasks he began.

City Clerk Linda Vandenbosch said she has been at City Hall since 1976 and she does not recall an election when a mayor ran for reelection and was unopposed.

&uot;This means that I can now start finalizing our budget for next year and stay with projects we began during this term,&uot; he said.

As for the people who have been critical of McLendon’s administration, he would not say anything negative, but said you can’t please everyone.

&uot;Any time you are in a position of leadership, you are not going to make everyone happy on every matter,&uot; he said.

&uot;So I will continue to do the best job I can for everyone in Greenville whether they support me or are critical of me.&uot;

In the District 1 Council race, Dr. Jean Thompson, the director of the Greenville campus of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College will oppose incumbent Councilwoman Susan Murphy, who is seeking her first full term.

In District 2, Percy Nixon will oppose incumbent Ed Sims for the council seat.

Sims is also seeking his first full term after being appointed.

Two well-established Greenville businessmen are looking to unseat incumbent Otto Duke in the District 3 race.

Tommy Ryan and Phillip Graham have both thrown their hats into the ring for the Council.

Districts 4 and 5 Councilman James Lewis and Jeddo Bell will automatically return to Council seats since they have no opposition.

Lewis will serve his sixth term on the council, while Bell will serve his third term respectively.

In Georgiana, only the mayor and the seat of retiring Councilwoman Ann Jean Abrams in Watson will face Larry Creech in the election.

This is Watson’s fifth run for the mayor’s office.

In District 2, William Lewis,

Robert Cheatham and Jay Cobb all want to be the next councilman.

District 1 Councilman Mike Middleton, District 3 Councilwoman Jackie Gandy, District 4 Councilman Robert Wilson and District 5 Councilman Jerry Peak all have no opposition.

The Town of McKenzie is confident in its mayor as well with Mayor Betty Stinson returning for another term at the city’s helm.

Councilmen Melvin Shufford, Greg Lampley Sr., Lester Odom and Councilwoman Ava Huggins face no opposition.

June Harper will join the body on Oct. 1.