The primary election is only three days away, and candidates are working on their final push for votes.
As of Thursday morning, 322 Republican and 62 Democratic absentee ballots had been cast, which Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan said is lower than usual.
The polls across Marion County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
With it being a primary, voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. Locally there are no contested races on the Democrat side, but there are contested races on the state level for governor, secretary of state and public service commissioner in that party’s primary.
Most of the action on Tuesday, though, will be on the Republican side. For the chancery clerk’s race the field has four GOP candidates: current deputy clerks Elisha Moree and Joy Baughman, District 1 Supervisor Randy Dyess and oilfield engineer Mark Broom. If no candidate gets at least 50 percent plus one vote, then the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff on Aug. 27. The winner in November will go against Democrat Darrick McGowan, a minister and consultant. Longtime Chancery Clerk Cass Barnes is retiring at the end of his term.
In the sheriff’s race, Republican incumbent Berkley Hall is being challenged in the primary by former Columbia Police Chief Mike Cooper and Lance Poirier, a former deputy who now works as an investigator for the Columbia Police Department. The winner will face Democrat Adrien Fortenberry, a Columbia police officer and Walthall County sheriff’s deputy, in the general election.
The largest race in terms of number of candidates is for District 1 supervisor, where Dyess is the incumbent. A total of eight candidates are seeking the position. The Republican primary Tuesday will feature “Blue” Green, George “P-Nut” King, David Lowery, Eddie Morgan, Steven “Pork Chop” Stringer and Morris Sweatt. The winner, likely to emerge from a runoff, will face Democrat Pearlie Hendricks and independent Teddy Breakfield in the general election in November.
For District 2 supervisor, Republican incumbent Terry Broome is being challenged in the primary by Sylvester Douglas, John Moree and Jimmy Townsend.
The only other contested race for a supervisor position is District 4 between Republican incumbent Raymon “Tater” Rowell and Buddy Carroll Bracey. Whoever wins the race on Tuesday will be the next District 4 supervisor as there are no Democrats or independents running.
Five are seeking the position of coroner being left vacant by Norma Williamson, who is not seeking re-election. Seeking the post are Republican candidates Jesse Graham, Alicia Herrington, Ashley Nibert, Bill Pierce and Carla Thornhill.
The next largest race is for Justice Court Judge for District 1. Sharon Hatfield Whitfield, who is the current judge, is retiring at the end of her term. Republicans running for the position include Winston “Joe” Cox, David Reed, Brandon Rowell, Henry Sumrall, Carlton Thornhill and Joseph Turney. Whoever wins once the primary, also likely to go to a runoff between the top two vote-getters, will face Democrat A.D. Lenoir in November.
The final race contested county race is for Constable District 1. Democrat Brian Foxworth is the incumbent. He will face the winner of primary and possible run-off of Republican candidates Gary Holman, Krae Morgan, Gerald Rowley and Eli Turnage.
It’s also an important state election with seats open for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer, as well as regional posts like transportation commissioner and public service commissioner.
In the Republican race for governor, a Mason-Dixon telephone poll of 500 likely Mississippi primary voters conducted from July 24 to July 27 showed Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves leading at 41 percent, former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. second at 31 percent and State Rep. Robert Foster at 13 percent. A full 15 percent remained undecided.
Legislative seats are also up for re-election throughout the state. In the state House of Representatives, the Marion County delegation of Ken Morgan and Bill Pigott are unopposed. State Sen. Angela Hill, a Republican from Picayune whose district includes Marion County, will face Democrat Thomas Lehr in the general election.
Stay tuned to columbianprogress.com for up-to-date election results on election night.
