Mayor, councilmen secure campaigns unchallenged

Come late October and early November, Harlem city residents might not see political campaign signs for Mayor Scott Dean and two city councilmen up for re-election this year.

There likely will not be a need for such signs, fliers or political rallies, because Dean and city councilmen John Thigpen and Rudolph Dixon will not face formal opposition for re-election in November.

"It's the best kind (of election). It saves my ulcer a lot of problems," Dean said. "No begging for money and no political campaign signs. We're thrilled, no doubt about it."

The deadline to qualify to run for the seats held by the three men passed Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., and no challengers tossed their hats into the ring, Dean said.

The three city leaders' names will appear on the November ballot, but the only challengers they could face would have to be write-in candidates.

Dean, a former city councilman, was elected mayor in November 2002 and was the first to serve a four-year term.

Thigpen, a Thomson city firefighter, McDuffie County emergency medical technician and supervisor for DSM Resins in Augusta, was elected to his first term on the council in November 2002.

He said he was pleased that he and the other city leaders will not face formal opposition in November.

"It's a real good feeling," he said. "Hopefully that's a sign that we're doing a good job and people like the direction the city is going."

Dixon, a retired United Methodist minister, has served four terms on the city council.

"I think it's great to have a landslide like that," he said. "I'm happy, especially for the mayor and other councilman."