The field to replace the retiring Cass Barnes as Marion County chancery clerk has gotten more crowded: District 1 Supervisor Randy Dyess threw his hat in the ring this week.
That makes four candidates for the position with two weeks to go until the March 1 qualifying deadline: Joy Daley Baughman and Elisha Prisk Moree are both deputy clerks in the office now, and Mark Broom is a Foxworth resident who works as a drilling fluids engineer.
All four are running as Republicans and will be in the Aug. 6 primary with a potential runoff on Aug. 27. The general election will be Nov. 5.
Dyess, who is in his third term as District 1 supervisor, said he just felt like a change.
“I’ve been praying about it just asking God to lead me in the right direction, and I feel like this was the direction He wanted me to go,” Dyess said Thursday.
Dyess said the board works with Barnes on a regular basis.
“It’s going to be hard to replace Cass, I’ll be honest with you, because he did an excellent job, and I think we’ve got some good people running. I just feel like the people will have a good choice,” he said.
His decision to run for chancery clerk will leave an open race for District 1 supervisor. Candidates so far are Eugene “Blue” Green, who owns L&W Glass in Columbia and ran against Dyess in the Republican primary four years ago, and Morris Sweatt, who recently retired from the district attorney’s office.
There are two other open seats: Coroner Norma Williamson and District 1 Justice Court Judge Sharon Whitfield are not seeking re-election. Candidates include:
Coroner: Jessie D. Graham, Alicia Neal Herrington, Ashley Davis Nibert and Carla Thornhill, all Republicans
Justice Court Judge District 1: Winston “Joe” Cox, David Reed, Henry Sumrall, Carlton Thornhill and Joseph Turney, all Republicans, and A.D. Lenoir, Democrat
Circuit Clerk: Janette Nolan, R
Constable District 1: Brian Foxworth, Democrat, and Krae Morgan and Eli Turnage, Republicans
Constable District 2: Robbie J. Gill, R
County Attorney: Lawrence E. Hahn, R
Justice Court Judge District 2: Gwen W. Broom, R
Sheriff: Mike Cooper, Berkley Hall and Lance Poirier, all Republicans, and Adrian Fortenberry, Democrat
Supervisor District 2: Terry Broome, Sylvester Douglas, John Moree and Jimmy Townsend, all Republicans
Supervisor District 3: Tony Morgan, R
Supervisor District 4: Raymon (Tater) Rowell, R
Supervisor District 5: Calvin Newsom Sr., D
Tax Assessor/Collector: Teresa Terrell, R
