Gregory pulls out of Bartlett alderman race

Sedgwick, Sykes remain

Donald Gregory’s pursuit of the Alderman Position 6 office in Bartlett has apparently lasted about a week.

Gregory, who pulled his petition for the race Aug. 3 and returned it with the required signatures last Wednesday, withdrew from the race Friday, according to the Election Commission.

Gregory was the third candidate to seek the only open seat of the three alderman positions up for election on the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Paula Sedgwick and Jason Sykes are the other candidates in the race.

Sedgwick, who has run for Bartlett office before, and Sykes, who is involved in city commissions and civic organizations, announced months ago that they were campaigning for the office currently held on an interim basis by Jay Rainey.

Rainey was appointed last November to fill the final year of the fouryear term after John Barzano resigned because he moved out of town. Rainey has said he will not seek a full term.

With Thursday’s qualifying deadline for the Nov. 6 election approaching, Sedgwick and Sykes appeared to be the only candidates running for the seat until last week when Gregory’s name emerged. Then, the Election Commission website showed he had withdrawn.

Gregory, a political un- known, is not listed on any city boards or commissions, and there is no indication he has previously run for office.

Efforts to reach Gregory by the telephone number he listed on the petition issued to him were unsuccessful last week when he filed, and again Tuesday.

Other aldermen seats on the November Bartlett ballot are incumbents Bobby Simmons (Position 4) and Jack Young (Position 5) who are unopposed so far.

Positions 1-3 and the mayor’s office will be on the ballot in 2014.