By Rebekah Martin
Associate Editor
Eight candidates are contending for seats in Opelika’s upcoming municipal election Aug. 23. Two city council seats, Patsy Jones’s Ward 1 and Larry Gray’s Ward 2, are being contested. Greg Jones is opposing Patsy Jones for the third time, and Larry Gray will face a trio of contenders: Nelson Marsh, Oscar Penn and Tiffany Gibson-Pitts.
Also on the ballot is the mayoral position, as incumbent Mayor Gary Fuller is being challenged by Lee County Commissioner John Andrew Harris.
About the candidates
Patsy Jones was first elected to the Opelika City Council in 1995 and has served five consecutive terms. Jones is currently the council President Pro Tem.
Greg Jones works with the non-profit organization New Vision Outreach.
Larry Gray has served on the city council since 2008. He is a 20-year Navy veteran and a retired youth counselor.
Nelson Marsh is the Creative Director of Marsh Ventures. This is his first campaign for public office.
Oscar Penn is a resident of the Jeter community and first ran for the Ward 2 seat in 2012.
Tiffany Gibson-Pitts is school counselor at Auburn High School. This is her first campaign for public office.
Gary Fuller is seeking his fourth term as Mayor of Opelika. Fuller was the Ward 4 representative on the Opelika City Council from 2000-2004.
John Andrew Harris is a 22-year veteran of the Lee County Commission, and served on the Opelika City Council from 1986-1995. The last day to pick up an absentee ballot is Aug. 18.
Staff Reporter Morgan Bryce contributed to this article.