After the untimely death of Donald Walker, many residents of Warner Robins are asking themselves what the effect will be on the election for the next Mayor of their city.

Warner Robins City Clerk Stan Martin, whose office is responsible for running the city’s municipal elections, tells us that, while Walker’s name will be on the ballot on November 3, any votes for him will be thrown out.

This is contrary to the rumors that have been floating around town over the last week about Walker’s role in the election, including that a vote for Donald Walker is a vote for his wife, or that if Walker were to win it would trigger a special election, which would allow an opportunity for new candidates to enter the race.

Neither of these rumors is true. While the fact that these rumors exist is attributable to the fact that Walker had such a close following, that following and those supporters would be wise to begin looking for another candidate among those currently in the race. A vote for Walker is a vote that will not count, and will do nothing to change any electoral outcome.

Allow me to give you an example with round numbers. If there are 10,000 votes cast, with 5,000 of them for Walker, 3,000 for one of the other candidates, and 1,000 for each of the other two candidates, the candidate with 3,000 votes becomes Mayor because he won a majority of votes that count. The 5,000 votes for Walker not only have no effect on the election, but they are thrown out, the same as if somebody had simply not chosen a candidate in that race.

Therefore, it is in the interest of former Walker supporters and of the city to ask tough questions of the remaining three candidates, Chuck Chalk, Clifford Holmes, and Chuck Shaheen. It is in their interest to find the candidate whom they believe will best carry on the legacy of Mayor Donald Walker, just as it has always been in the interest of every resident of Warner Robins to find the candidate who best represents their vision for the future of the city.

Donald Walker’s passing changes the number of candidates in the race, but not the stakes of the campaign. This is still a campaign about the future of the city of Warner Robins; so make sure that you educate yourself on these three candidates. Vote for a candidate that aligns with your vision of the future of the city for the future of Warner Robins and will be able to serve the city over the next four years.