The only mayoral candidate in Newbern that qualified to run in 2020 may finally be set to take that office, reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz. Newbern, population 133, is in Hale County. Patrick Braxton has said that, he when decided he wanted to run for mayor and sought to file the proper paperwork, he was told by previous mayor Haywood Stokes that Newbern doesn't even have ballots or voting machines. Apparently, essentially the same folks have always run the city, sometimes even handing down the seats to family members. But this past election cycle, Braxton and a new set of city councilors qualified to run and, it would seem, would be setting up shop in City Hall. But Braxton said he was locked out of the town hall and denied access to the bank accounts. The old guard then held a special election -- he said without his knowing about it -- and the former council members claimed their positions back. When Braxton wouldn't meet with the old council, it declared the mayor's office vacant and re-appointed Stokes as mayor. And that's where Newbern has been, with two mayors and eight councilors claiming one mayor's office and four council seats. Adding to the drama: The old guard is white, and the newer folks are Black. Newbern is around 80% Black. With a federal trial looming, the parties have reached a proposed settlement that would finally instate Braxton as mayor and the new city council after nearly four years of limbo. If a federal judge signs off on the settlement, the defendants would also admit to constitutional violations and the town would pledge to hold free and fair elections beginning in November 2025. | 