Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall easily won the Republican nomination Tuesday, avoiding a runoff over two challengers by getting nearly 63 percent of the vote.
The three-term incumbent said Tuesday night that Marion County has spoken and the people are pleased with how he is doing. He said he’s well-pleased with the outcome and looking forward to getting November behind him.
Hall will face Democrat Adrien Fortenberry, a Columbia police officer and Walthall County sheriff’s deputy, in the Nov. 5 general election.
In Tuesday’s Republican primary, Hall garnered 3,857 machine and absentee votes (62.9 percent) versus 1,214 votes (19.8 percent) for Columbia Police investigator Lance Poirier and 1,035 votes (16.9 percent) for former Columbia Police Chief Mike Cooper in one of the few county races Tuesday to avoid a runoff.
