Election season is officially here in Marion County as qualifying closed Friday, and 49 candidates are seeking county office.
That’s a 63 percent increase in the number of office seekers from the previous election cycle in 2015, when 30 candidates ran.
There has also been a heavy shift toward Republicans from four years ago: In 2015, 15 Republicans ran compared to 14 Democrats. This year it is 42 Republicans and just six Democrats.
The heavy turnout is driven in part by four open seats. For chancery clerk, coroner and District 1 Justice Court judge, incumbents Cass Barnes, Norma Williamson and Sharon Whitfield, respectively, are not seeking re-election. And for District 1 supervisor, incumbent Randy Dyess is running for chancery clerk, which has led to nine candidates seeking that post.
Races where incumbents have drawn opponents include sheriff, District 1 constable, District 2 supervisor and District 4 supervisor.
The Republican and Democratic primaries will be Aug. 6 with a potential runoff on Aug. 27. The general election is Nov. 5.
The following incumbents are unopposed and will retain their offices for another four years: Circuit Clerk Janette Nolan, Tax Assessor/Collector Teresa Terrell, District 2 Constable Robbie Gill, County Attorney Lawrence Hahn, District 2 Justice Court Judge Gwen Broom, District 3 Supervisor Tony Morgan and District 5 Supervisor Calvin Newsom.
In statewide and regional races, which qualify through the state rather than the courthouse, State Reps. Bill Pigott and Ken Morgan and District Attorney Hal Kittrell are unopposed and will serve another four-term year.
The only contested legislative race involving Marion County is Senate District 40. Incumbent Angela Hill, a Republican from Picayune, will face Democrat Tom Lehr, a retired postal employee from Carriere. The district includes all of Marion County and part of Pearl River County.
Statements of economic interest are due to the state Ethics Commission within 15 days of the qualifying deadline, which comes out to March 15. The form includes the sources of income for candidates and their spouses but does not list amounts of income.
Other election deadlines include:
• May 10 is the first campaign finance deadline.
• June 7 is the first day absentee ballots will be available.
• July 8 is the deadline for registering to vote or updating an address.
