By Melissa Robinson
Contributing Editor 

  Two candidates are seeking the office of mayor in the city of Hampton and Election Day is this Tuesday, March 19 from 7 am to 7 p.m. at the Hampton Train Depot. Early voting will continue for the remainder of this week, until Friday, March 15 at the Hampton Train Depot from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the Elections Office, located at 345 Phillips Drive in McDonough, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  Steve Hutchison and Chris Moore are vying for the mayor’s seat in a special election to fill the position left vacant after R.W. Colley passed away in October. Coley was serving his second term when he died unexpectedly last fall.

  Hutchison, 61, served on the Hampton city council for the past five years. He resigned late last year to seek the office of the mayor. A 10-year resident of Hampton, Hutchison is a 27-year veteran with the United States Air Force and currently works as a Detention Officer in the Henry County jail. If elected he hopes to continue the work of the elected officials in Hampton and bring a grocery store to the city as well as a senior center and more activities for Hampton’s youth.

  “I want to be a leader for Hampton. In the past, the council and the mayor worked hand in hand and I want to continue that solid relationship. I’ve worked with budgets in the past and in the city, we’ve had no layoffs and even managed to give some raises,” said Hutchinson.

  Moore, 41, is an artist and business owner who owns MooreArt Studios on Main St. in Hampton. He is a former Henry County firefighter and paramedic as well as a Gulf War veteran who served in the Navy from 1990 to 1994. He is a lifelong resident of Henry County and said his main goals if elected are to revitalize business and attract employment opportunities to town, He also wants to form a neighborhood network volunteer program so that citizens can learn how their local government can work for them. He said he also wants to see a grocery store open in town.

  “If elected, I plan to approach mid-level grocery stores with the hope of attracting a grocery store to open in Hampton. I also want to work to attract new businesses to open in Hampton, which will change the economic outlook and create new employment opportunities for residents,” said Moore.

   The winner in the upcoming election will serve out the remaining nine months of Coley’s term and the seat will be up for re-election in November.

  According to Andy Pippin, Hampton’s city manager, Hampton operates under a Council/Manager form of government, where the manager runs the day to business and the council makes policy and law, however, in the event of a council tie, the mayor casts the deciding vote. The mayor also takes on the role of the city’s official representative in meeting with other city, county and state officials, as well as representing the city in parades and festivals, at schools and with visitors. The part-time position pays a salary of $900 a month and phone compensation of $25 a month.