Although Oktibbeha County election officials did not reveal updated vote totals Wednesday, candidates in tight races say the remaining ballots are unlikely to change Tuesday’s results.
The general election ended with three tight races too close to call: the Districts 3 and 4 supervisor races and District 3’s justice court post.
Officials processed affidavit ballots Wednesday, accepting 180 and rejecting 76 county-wide, and continued hand-tallying absentee votes. Election managers are also waiting on three voters to return with proper identification for their ballots and an addressing problem with one voter to be solved.
The District 3 Supervisor race between Republican Denny Daniels and Democrat Marvell Howard had incumbent Howard leading his opponent by 44 votes after a partial absentee count.
On Wednesday, Howard said early absentee processing indicated he had a 55 vote lead with 24 left to count, and he could pick up an additional 22 affidavits. In all, officials said District 3 yielded 34 accepted affidavits, with one acceptance pending.
The Daniels-Howard race was a rematch of 2011’s tightest race, one in which Howard won re-election by three votes.
“I don’t think the numbers are in my favor right now, but I’m waiting to see what they are. My numbers and the numbers the circuit clerk’s office have are different, but I think there will be a 20-30 vote gap (between Howard’s lead),” Daniels said. “I’m ready to win one outright.”
“(Waiting for a clear victory) is something I’ve grown accustomed to,” Howard added.
District 4’s supervisor race between incumbent Daniel Jackson and Republican Bricklee Miller ended with a five vote Miller lead after machine ballots were tallied Tuesday. A partial absentee count that night put her up over her Democratic challenger by 55 votes.
Miller, who observed Wednesday’s vote processing, reported counting efforts indicated she would take a 1,595-1,549 victory once the election is finalized.
Officials could not confirm the total Wednesday as they had not officially processed the votes but did say District 4 yielded 42 affidavit votes. A majority of those originated from the South Starkville precinct, which Miller carried easily.
When her victory is confirmed, Miller will become Oktibbeha County’s first female supervisor.
“I commend Daniel on a clean campaign. I commend him for his years of service and look forward to working with him through the transition,” she said in a text message. “I am extremely humbled by the honor that those who voted for me have bestowed upon me today. It is with a great deal of humility and gratitude that I accept responsibility you have tasked me with, and I will not let you down. I look forward to being your voice on the board of supervisors and to seeing District 4 and Oktibbeha County become an even better place to live, work and raise our families.”
C. Martin Haug is also expected to hold his lead in District 3’s justice court race once final ballots are tallied.
Haug, a Democrat and the only lawyer in the entire justice court field, led his closest competition, Republican Buddy Johnston, 1,279-1,021 after machine votes were tallied Tuesday. The partial absentee count pushed his lead to a 258 vote margin that night.
It is unknown how many of the 180 county-wide affidavits accepted originated from District 3’s justice court post because of numerous split precincts. Election officials confirmed the 42 affidavits from District 4’s supervisor area are part of the District 3 justice court territory.
Haug thanked his wife, Rowan, and the voters for supporting him and commended his opponents for running good campaigns. He emerged as the Democrat’s nominee after ousting Judge James “Jim” Mills and surviving a primary runoff.
“I look forward to beginning my term and promise to run a fair court for all of our citizens, one we can all be proud of and have confidence in,” Haug said.
District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery, a Republican, is also expected to hold his post after leading his challenger, Donald Thompson, by 224 votes.
“It’s a tremendous responsibility, and I’m honored to be elected for a second term,” Montgomery said. “I’m excited about what the future holds for Oktibbeha County and what we can accomplish over the next term. We are growing as a county and are doing well to create jobs in our area.”
Many district and county-wide races were called Tuesday because of their large margins. Incumbents fared well at the polls as Sheriff Steve Gladney, Circuit Clerk Glenn Hamilton, Coroner Michael Hunt, District 3 Constable James Lindsey, Tax Assessor Allen Morgan and District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer easily staved off election challenges.
Other unopposed incumbents re-elected Tuesday include: Chancery Clerk Monica Banks, District 1 Justice Court Judge Tony Boykin, Prosecutor Haley Brown, Surveyor Tom Gregory, District 1 Constable Shank Phelps, District 2 Constable Curtis Randle and District 5 Supervisor Joe Williams.
Incoming District 2 Justice Court Judge Larnzy Carpenter defeated incumbent W. Bernard Crump in August’s Democratic Primary and was unopposed in the general election.
Vote indications and predictions made by processing observers in this story are all unofficial until the results are announced and approved by the circuit clerk’s office.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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