Candidates making a late push to qualify for county races before Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline added interest and surprised incumbents in a few developed races.
Two more candidates qualified to run for seats on the board of supervisors Friday, an eighth candidate qualified to run for circuit clerk and a three-man race developed for superintendent of Lowndes County schools. On Thursday, a constable of 45 years even picked up an opponent.
Former supervisor Joe Brooks qualified to face two-term District 4 supervisor incumbent Jeff Smith in a Democratic primary in August. Brooks, 63, served on the board from 1996-2004 and was board president during his second term.
He said he has owned JD&M Enterprises — which has a state contract to transport Medicaid patients to medical treatment — for 22 years. Brooks also pastors St. John Missionary Baptist Church, and he said he has served on the Tenn-Tom Water Management Board since Gov. Haley Barbour appointed him 12 years ago.
Brooks wants to return to the board with a focus on improving infrastructure.
“I just feel like I can help the people of Lowndes County and District 4 with a lot of road issues,” Brooks said. “I want to help us get funding for roads, bridges and other facilities that need help.”
Smith, 52, said he was surprised by the late challenge, especially since he feels he has been a good steward of citizen issues and taxpayer money.
“For the most part, I think the work I’ve done has been satisfactory to the constituents of District 4,” Smith said. “I got into this thing so I could help make a positive difference. Anybody being honest will tell you they’ve seen positive changes in Lowndes County.”
First elected in 2007, Smith staved off two Democratic challengers in his first re-election campaign in 2011. Brooks said the road to unseating Smith won’t be easy.
“Any time you run against an incumbent, it’s a great challenge,” Brooks said. “I’ve just got to get out and knock on people’s doors.”
District 5 has three qualifiers
A third candidate also jumped into the District 5 supervisor’s race on Friday.
Former West Lowndes High School boys’ basketball coach Ricky Hill Sr., 55, qualified as a Democrat. He will face eight-term incumbent Leroy Brooks and Ward 2 Columbus councilman Marty Turner in a primary.
No Republicans qualified in either District 4 or 5.
Though Hill has no political experience, he said he’s not intimidated to face two opponents who already hold public office. He said he believes Leroy Brooks has accomplished much in 32 years as District 5 supervisor but noted the incumbent may have served long enough.
Hill said, if elected, he would promote a spirit of cooperation among supervisors.
“I think I can work well with the people on the board and the people who may be coming in,” Hill said. “That job is not just about what you do for the people in your own district but also in how you can help other supervisors enhance their districts…I’m a personal type of person. I don’t talk a lot, but I actually want to say things when I do talk.”
8 seeking Lowndes circuit court post
Libertarian Sheri Taylor Bedwell became the eighth candidate seeking to replace longtime circuit clerk Haley Salazar. Bedwell did not return messages from The Dispatch on Friday and Saturday.
She joins in the circuit clerk race four Republicans, Deputy Clerk Teresa Barksdale, retired teacher Margie Canon, local attorney and former Mississippi Supreme Court justice Chuck Easley, and Packet co-owner Justin Shelton; Democrat and Ward 2 Columbus councilman Joseph Mickens; and two independents, Golden Triangle Planning and Development District director for computing services Tim Heard and former teacher/community volunteer Jackie Leach.
3 vying to lead Lowndes Co. schools
In the county school superintendent race, Columbus’ Cook Elementary principal Tim Wilcox has joined the race as a Republican, creating a three-candidate primary with first-term incumbent Lynn Wright and New Hope High School assistant principal Sammy Sullivan. No Democrats qualified in that race.
Wilcox, 50, is in his third year at Cook. Before that, he worked four years as an assistant principal at New Hope.
He said he’s pursuing the top county school administrator spot because of the potential to build partnerships and collaborations between the school district and its patrons that would extend greater benefits to county students. From a resource standpoint, he said the projected bump in property tax collections over the next six years from county-based industry — which is expected to nearly double the value of an ad valorem mill to about $760,000 by 2021 — increased the county school district’s potential.
“The (county) school district is on the cusp of great opportunity,” Wilcox said. “The people and resources there create potential for great success.”
Constable race
For District 1 constable, 50-year-old Chris Griffin has qualified as a Republican to face longtime Democratic incumbent Willie H. “Hoot” West.
A lifelong Lowndes County resident, Griffin is part owner of Southern Civil Contracting. He said he began his law enforcement career in 1990, working six years as a full-time Lowndes County deputy sheriff and 14 years as the Caledonia town marshal. Now, he said, he serves as an auxiliary sheriff’s deputy.
“I’d like to get back to serving the people full-time, so I decided I’d give this a shot,” Griffin said. “I’ve known ‘Hoot’ all my life, and I think I’ve voted for him every time I’ve voted. I consider him a friend, and I think he considers me one. I know it’s going to be tough to beat him.”
West, 77, has served 45 years as constable. Before that, he worked stints as a Lowndes County sheriff’s deputy and Columbus police officer.
The lifelong Caledonia resident said he intends for this race to be his political swan song, win or lose.
“I’m really surprised to get an opponent, mainly because this will be my last go round even if I am elected,” West said. “I’m a full-time constable, and I’d like to keep the office for one more term.”
Unopposed races
When qualifying ended, nine county incumbents moved through unopposed, including District 2 supervisor Bill Brigham (R); tax collector/assessor Greg Andrews (D); county attorney Allison Kizer (R); coroner Greg Merchant,;justice court judges Chris Hemphill (R), Ron Cooke (R) and Peggy Phillips (D); and constables Joe F. Ables Sr. and Willie Sanders (both Democrats).
For a complete list of county qualifiers, see Monday’s Dispatch.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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