JenaNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Jena Mayor & Town Council Election 2026

5 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 10 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Deadline to request an absentee ballot (Oct 30): the election office's notice

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The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

All five council seats and the mayor's office are on the ballot. Eight candidates are running for the five council seats, and two for mayor.

Deadline to request an absentee ballot · Oct 30

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

U.S. House: all candidates run on one ballot. If no one gets more than half the vote, the top two meet in a runoff on Dec 12.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

What the next council decides

01Utility rates and meters3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe town's 2025 audit found the gas and sewer systems operated at a loss, and the council introduced an amended utility-rate ordinance in September 2026.

What's on the tableWhether and how much to change gas, water and sewer rates, and how to pay for new meters.

02Police and fire staffing and pay3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council added money for police raises in January 2026 and approved limited police overtime pay in August 2026.

What's on the tableHow much to pay police and fire personnel and what equipment to buy.

03Blighted and dilapidated property3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe town adopted a property maintenance code in 2026 and has been pursuing condemnation of dilapidated properties.

What's on the tableHow strictly to enforce property upkeep rules and which buildings to condemn or demolish.

04Budget, sales tax and millage3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe 2025 audit found the town in sound financial condition, and the council adopted its 2026 budgets and millage rate.

What's on the tableHow to balance the budget as sales tax collections rise and fall from month to month.

05Streets and sewer work2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe town awarded a $729,842 sewer grit chamber contract in 2026, and street repair is a common theme in candidate statements.

What's on the tableHow the town pays for street repairs and wastewater upgrades.

2 notes on these statements

Mayor LaDawn C. Edwards is not seeking re-election, so Jena will have a new mayor. The Jena Times · Jun 17, 2026

Chief of Police Scott McLendon was returned to office without opposition, so that office is not on the ballot. The Jena Times · Aug 12, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should Jena raise pay for its police officers and firefighters?

  2. 2. Should Jena consider a new sales tax or millage to pay for town needs?

  3. 3. Should Jena create a dedicated year-round street repair crew?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted11 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 5 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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