District 2 Constable Curtis Randle and District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams secured victories in Tuesday’s Democratic primary and will return to their respective seats next term.
The two officials are done campaigning in this election cycle as no Republican or independent challengers emerged this year in either race. Chancery Clerk Monica Banks, Prosecutor Haley Brown, Surveyor Tom Gregory and District 1 Constable Shank Phelps are also running unopposed in November.
Randle and Williams both posted early leads yesterday, and their margin of victory grew throughout the night.
Randle beat Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Deputy Andre Quinn by securing almost 70 percent of the day’s vote, while Williams’ 58 percent tally outpaced his closest opponent, Starkville firefighter Sylvester “Dewayne” Davis, by 339 votes.
Tuesday’s results are unofficial and do not include 111 Democratic and 51 GOP affidavits. Those ballots, which officials will count today, are not enough to erase Randle’s and Williams’ leads.
A high number of affidavits were received at polling locations due to voting machine issues. Officials reported instances of machines overheating at a number of precincts.
A familiar feel
Oktibbeha County voters should experience a bit of deja vu during November’s general election since three of the four remaining county board races are rematches.
District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer, the board’s longest-tenured member, will face independent Robert “Bubba” Gray Jr. in November after securing a large victory Tuesday.
Trainer received 489 votes — almost 60 percent of the participating electorate — while his closest challenger, former Supervisor Gene Autry Perry, tallied 186 votes.
Gray and Trainer last locked horns in 2011 when the incumbent won with 67 percent of the overall vote.
“We would like to sincerely thank the citizens of Oktibbeha County’s District 2 for their continued support, and we look forward to their support throughout this process. If we can be of service, please let us know,” Trainer said.
District 4’s previous Republican nominee, Miss. Horse Park Director Bricklee Miller, also won her party’s nomination and will again face incumbent Daniel Jackson, a Democrat, in November.
Miller defeated Mississippi State University broadcaster Bart Gregory 866-660, or with 56 percent of the vote.
In 2011’s general election, Jackson beat Miller by 441 votes.
“I congratulate Mr. Gregory on a well-run campaign,” she said. “I am so thankful for the confidence placed in me by the voters of District 4. A new day begins at midnight, and I pledge to work even harder prior to November.”
A rematch of 2011’s tightest race — the District 3 showdown between incumbent Marvell Howard, a Democrat, and Republican Dennis “Denny” Daniels — is again expected to be this year’s closest competition.
Howard secured a second term in that election with his three-vote victory over Daniels.
Both men were unopposed in Tuesday’s primaries, as were District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery, a Republican, and his November opponent, Democrat Donald Thompson.
Hamilton brothers have mixed results
Two brothers ran in Tuesday’s Republican primary, and their campaigns’ end results were different as night and day.
First-term Circuit Clerk Glenn Hamilton easily fended off an intra-party challenge by Michael Campbell with almost 82 percent of the day’s vote, while his brother, Sturgis Police Chief Doug Hamilton, trailed Chris Pollan for the party’s coroner nomination.
Pollan, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, earned 50.6 percent of the unofficial tally and led his opponent by 50 votes at the end of the night.
If his lead holds, Pollan will face incumbent Democrat Michael Hunt in the general election. Hunt last beat Republican Billy Miller 7,978-4,271 in 2011.
“It was a good, positive race,” Pollan said. “I think the world of Doug and the Hamiltons, and I appreciate their support now. I just want to take (my experience) forward to the November election.”
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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