Smith, Hudson-Bourgeois In A Runoff For Century Town Council Seat

August 29, 2018

There will be a November  runoff for Century Town Council Seat Seat 4 between Mary Hudson-Bourgeois  and James Smith, Jr.  after no candidate received half of the votes cast Tuesday.

Complete, but unofficial vote totals from Tuesday’s election are:

  • James Smith, Jr. – 160
  • Mary Hudson Bourgeois – 146
  • Brian Johnston – 19
In order to win the council seat, a candidate was required to receive one vote more than 50 percent.

Seat 4 incumbent Gary Riley tearfully announced in May that he would not seek re-election to the seat he has held for 20 years.

Incumbent Ben Boutwell will face challenger Amanuel Onell Dubose on the general election ballot on November 6 for Century Council Seat 3.  Sandra McMurray Jackson will return to Council Seat 5 without opposition.

Pictured top: Century Council candidate James Smith talks on the phone outside Century Town Hall  Tuesday night as he awaits election results, and candidate Mary Hudson Bourgeois speaks with a supporter about early results. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

26 Responses to “Smith, Hudson-Bourgeois In A Runoff For Century Town Council Seat”

  1. Joe Jr. on August 31st, 2018 3:01 pm

    Who cares who she is related to. She is a respected business owner in Century. She grew up in Century and is citizen of Century. So, why shouldn’t she run for a council seat. Besides that, she is a good person who I would vote for if I could. All of you people in Century sure do have a lot of opinions on matters that you apparently don’t know much about. I hope you are not trusting Northescambia.com to tell the truth without any sensationalism.

  2. 19 Votes on August 31st, 2018 2:40 pm

    Wow………a runoff caused by a third person who only received 19 votes, and those votes were probably his family. Sad

  3. Curious on August 31st, 2018 1:27 pm

    @M in Bratt

    And there you have it. No conspiracy – no “collusion”, just first cousins.
    Go figure.

  4. AnotherCitizen on August 31st, 2018 12:38 pm

    Century is a small town and just about everyone is connected in someway, by blood, marriage, or business. I am sure if you checked the current council you might find some relationships but so what. Yes Mary and Robert Hudson are relatives, they are first cousins but this does not mean that they can not work together. They just have to stay within the rules of law.

  5. M in Bratt on August 31st, 2018 7:27 am

    @Cureous; We are talking about a town that has been in the headlines for years now about their laughable and questionable dealings. The public deserves to know about any dealings between the players whether it’s family relationships, or business deals. By knowing about any such relationships, the public can better judge what goes on at the council table.

  6. Citizen on August 30th, 2018 11:20 pm

    @hawk

    Then Why? What are you betting on?

  7. Curious on August 30th, 2018 9:20 pm

    @M in Bratt

    No, I don’t think you answered the second question. If they are related, then it’s just that, they are related and nothing more. Being related to someone is not a violation of any rule or code. If it were, every human being would be in violation.

  8. M in Bratt on August 30th, 2018 5:11 pm

    @Cureous; I think I answered your questions adequately enough for most people to understand, but I will clarify; The point is that I am curious. I have to think that you probably know the answers for you to be so prickly about it.

  9. Curious on August 30th, 2018 3:31 pm

    @m in bratt

    Easy now, just “curious”.
    How about an answer to the second question?

  10. M IN BRATT on August 30th, 2018 11:02 am

    @Curious; I am capable of being “curious” without anybody putting me up to asking. I ask because I am “curious”. Sounds like it’s a sore subject with some people, and that makes even me more “curious”. Does anybody have the answer?

  11. Curious on August 30th, 2018 7:20 am

    Questions for M in Bratt
    1. Who put you up to asking this question?
    2. What is your point?

  12. Clueless Bob on August 29th, 2018 11:21 pm

    Interesting story and comments. Also, @M in Bragg I wondered the same thing. If so, that has to be a violation of some sort. I’m sure someone on here knows the answer to that.

  13. Hawk on August 29th, 2018 9:50 pm

    @ citizen
    You’re so knowledgeable about all the issues and your solutions.

    Why not run for council ?

    I bet i know why.

  14. M in Bratt on August 29th, 2018 6:40 pm

    I’d love to know if there is any relationship between Mary Hudson Bourgeois and the Town Council’s CPA, Mr. Hudson?

  15. M in Bratt on August 29th, 2018 6:37 pm

    Cleaning up the weeds, dilapidated buildings, and yards full of junk would be a good start, but cleaning the “weeds” out of city hall would accomplish much more.

  16. Michelle on August 29th, 2018 3:22 pm

    Just want to know who the MAYOR thinks he is fooling? Smith, Jr along with the gentleman running against Ben Boutwell in another election and Gomez are all buddies. Since we all know Gomez is Hawkins’ right hand man, IF you vote them in, the town of Century will be in Hawkins’ back pocket. It would be Gomez, McMurray Jackson, Smith Jr and the other one against Ann Brooks. If they all go in, our Town is going to be in trouble!!!

    Please remember to vote and keep our Town HONEST!!

  17. Sickofpolitics on August 29th, 2018 3:11 pm

    Just came back into Century from P’cola and they are w working on that Welcome to Century location …fyi.

  18. William on August 29th, 2018 2:21 pm

    >>>What are the resident qualification part in order to run for any office.

    The town charter seems to say that a council member must be a qualified voter in Florida and must reside in Century on election day. There is a six month and ongoing residency requirement for the mayor.

    Sec. 3.02. – Qualifications.

    Any elector of the town shall be eligible to hold the office of town councilmember. The council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office.

    Sec. 4.02. – Mayor; Qualifications; Term of Office

    The mayor shall be an elector of the town and shall have resided in the town, or within any area annexed since the last general election, for at least six (6) months prior to the date on which he qualified to run for the office of mayor.

    Sec. 5.02. – Qualifications of Candidates and Electors.

    …All electors voting in any election held within the Town of Century, Florida must be qualified electors in the State of Florida, and must reside within the town limits on election day

  19. Citizen on August 29th, 2018 1:37 pm

    @ Boo
    Hi Yes Image is everything.

    I think Broad spectrum sprays the herbicide– (contract from FDOT)

    Century does the mowing (sub contract from Broad spectrum and sends prisoners to do it)

    And the County does the code enforcement for the falling down buildings but won’t be proactive for some stupid reason, I can’t figure, maybe they don’t give a darn and like their entrance in to D5 to reflect poorly upon themselves. it’s working.

    Been trying to figure it out. FDOT did do the landscape until Feb 2018 then forwarded the guidelines of how to mulch and maintain it to the Town of Century to take it over.

    I notified the mayor and two council members CC’d D5 commissioner about the way it looked plus to look for the guideline that Dustie Moss had sent to them in an email (FDOT landscape co ordinator) and

    Sent commissioner another email with pictures and comments from what people were saying how it looked through there. No response.

    So easy for everyone to say..”not my Job”

    Citizen blue in the face trying to get some one to take responsibility..

    If the leaders and workers already elected and or hired don’t care then that is what we got. Tweedle dum and tweedle dee all the way around.

    Evidence, it’s staggering..

    If some one wants to be on the council they need to realize.

    Yes it is Your JOB!! Seeing is believing..

  20. Wondering on August 29th, 2018 1:36 pm

    Has Mr Smith been a resident of century long enough to meet the qualifications to seek office. I know he just moved to century not to long ago. What are the resident qualification part in order to run for any office.

  21. Chelleepea on August 29th, 2018 10:34 am

    So if smith had gotten 4 more votes he would have won the seat? Please come out and vote in November. You can see from this every vote counts.

    Will these two actually do some campaigning before November? I don’t vote because of your color or gender or just because I know your name. I want to know your plans. What can you bring to the table or are you a seat warmer?

  22. tg on August 29th, 2018 8:50 am

    Mary has to figure out how to get all of Brians votes.

  23. Boo on August 29th, 2018 7:38 am

    Citizen! They just hired two more and getting a raise. Add the side walks also there’s grass in the cracks and just don’t spray weed killer and make it brown dead grass in the cracks. Add all the run down buildings needing to go. First impression is everything..

  24. Sam on August 29th, 2018 7:14 am

    The problem is the mayors position. The other positions won’t function without a mayor that can manage things.

  25. DNorton on August 29th, 2018 6:57 am

    Good to see voters out for this primary. Let’s keep registering voters and encouraging a strong turnout in November. We need experience and dedication on the Century Town Council. Big issues to debate and tough decisions to make. Vote in November!

  26. Citizen on August 29th, 2018 3:24 am

    How about clean up all four Welcome to FL and Century Landscape areas that have knee high weeds place new mulch there with county grant money sitting in the budget waiting to be lost– get your picture taken there and I may vote for you this Fall. Watching.