Photo: Republican Horn Lake mayoral primary runoff winner Danny Klein (middle) and challenger Nat Baker (right) exchange congratulations as Tuesday’s results were revealed. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
April 23, 2025 – Republicans have completed their slate of candidates for the June 3 municipal general election in DeSoto County. Five party primary runoff races were determined on Tuesday and with it, a new alderwoman was elected and four candidates were selected to represent the party in June.
The elected alderwoman is Lauren Leigh McLendon, who won the Alderman-at-Large primary runoff over former alderman Jeff Hobbs, 786-734. McLendon becomes the new person in that seat on the board as Democrats had no candidates for any of the seats up for election in Hernando.
On her Facebook page after the election results Tuesday night, McLendon said, “I do want to thank the incredible voters—the real winners—who stood strong, stayed smart, and kept this seat in the hands of a true Conservative Republican.”
Her website touts McLendon as a corporate engineer and Director of Operations at a top 10 chemical distributor. She has 10 years of project management experience and she holds two engineering degrees.
Voters in Horn Lake still have to return to the polls on June 3 to determine who their representatives on the Board of Aldermen and Mayor will be.
At the top of the list is Mayor, where current Alderman-at-Large Danny Klein outpolled former mayor Nat Baker 621-440. A Republican, Klein will face Democrat and Horn Lake Planning Commissioner Jimmy Stokes II for mayor on June 3.
Klein said infrastructure is a big thing in Horn Lake, drainage, sewage and that type of thing, along with community and more family activities.
“Management is my background and where my strength is,” Klein said. “I’ve been in management all of my life and I can help the city considerably. I can make a few tweaks here and there to make all of the difference.”
Klein has spent 14 years as a small business owner in Horn Lake and is currently an area manager for DeSoto County Schools, overseeing maintenance for nine district schools.
Heather Dupree will be the Republican candidate in the June general election for Klein’s current seat at Alderman-at-Large. Dupree defeated former alderman Donnie “Chigger” White 559-476. She will face Democrat Larry McKinney.
The candidate from the Republican party for Ward 1 Alderman will be Joseph “Joe” Zachary, a 117-65 winner over William “Bill” Adelman. Zachary will run against Joshua Langston in the June general election.
Running for Ward 4 Alderman from the Republican side will be Dylan Smith, an 85-78 winner over Kirby Carter. Smith will campaign against Democrat Kelly Lee Smith in the June general election.
Winners from the June vote will begin their terms in office on July 1.
