On Tuesday, the election for Duncan mayor will take place.
Early voting opened up Thursday and Friday, and the precincts are set to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for the voluntary position. The two candidates running for the office are Patty Wininger, a nurse at Duncan Regional Hospital, and Robert Armstrong, the owner and founder of Armstrong Financial Partners.
Both have many ideas about what they wold do if they were elected.
“I feel like my voice wasn’t being heard,” Armstrong said. “If you don’t get involved and try to make things better, you can’t complain. I hope to bring a new perspective to making Duncan better.”
Wininger, who currently serves on the Duncan City Council, said the important things is for people to vote because it helps their voices be heard.
“People really should go vote tomorrow,” she said. “Every vote matters, and I would be so grateful for everyone who will vote for me. We appreciate all of your support and we think this is a great city.”
Anyone who is registered to vote and who lives in the Duncan city limits can go vote. The mayor position is a non-partisan office.
Armstrong’s policies are to ensure financial responsibilities and pro-liberty, meaning that people will be free to make their own decisions. He also wants to make sure that the public schools have all of the money and resources they need, and for there to be more affordable homes.
“My wife is a public school teacher, so I care a lot about the public schools having enough resources,” he said. “And I am working on a project with the recent homes that have been built. I am trying to make them more affordable to the working class people.”
If Wininger were to be elected mayor, she would be the first woman mayor and the first nurse to be mayor.
Her policies are to make sure that the city and its people still have a strong infrastructure, ensure economic growth and help people get an education. She also wants to make sure partnerships get stronger and better.
“I want to ensure the safety of the police and fire departments,” Wininger said. “I also want to help them purchase things. Housing is also a challenge. We need more housing that people can afford, and people need to take pride in their yards and keep them tidy.”
Although members of the City Council have to come from specific areas to represent as wards on the council, the mayor can come from any of the wards. The mayor works with other city council members in matters ranging from hiring a city manager to financial matters, such as the annual budget.
