Absentee ballots will determine Biloxi Ward 4 winner. Here’s how close the race remains

Every vote counted in the special runoff election Tuesday for a new Biloxi City Councilman, and the winner still isn’t certain.

After all ballots in hand were counted, Rodney McGilvary held a nine-vote lead over Jamie Creel, 452-443, according to unofficial results. There are still 17 absentee ballots that have not been returned. If those ballots arrive postmarked by July 9, they will be counted.

Tuesday’s preliminary results were a reverse of the June 18 primary election, when Creel finished with 312 votes and Rodney McGilvary with 288 out of five candidates. With neither candidate earning 50% of the vote, a runoff election was needed.

The winner will fill the remainder of the term of Robert Deming III until the municipal election next spring.

The election won’t be certified until July 16. At that point, either candidate can ask for a recount.

McGilvary graduated from Biloxi High School and served for 40 years in the Biloxi Police Department, retiring as assistant chief. He also has been a commissioner on the Biloxi Housing Authority for seven years.

Creel is a Biloxi native and served in the Mississippi House of Representatives District 115. He comes from a long line of public officials, with his grandfather, father and uncles all serving in leadership roles in the community.