The field for Oktibbeha County’s special election to fill former Chancery Clerk Monica Banks’ seat was set at six candidates Friday after no new challengers emerged before the day’s qualification deadline.
The field includes Democrats Martesa Flowers, Margaret Jordan, Sharon Livingston and Hattie Ridgel, and Republicans Tina Fisher and Barbara Mitchell.
Fisher, 43, is a 25-year Starkville resident who has worked as a deputy clerk in the Lowndes County Chancery Clerk’s Office for 22 years.
Flowers, 35, is a contract and grant specialist at Mississippi State University. She previously worked for about a year and a half as an accounting assistant and payroll clerk for the City of Starkville.
Jordan, 49, has 21 years of work experience as an educator. She currently serves as an eighth-grade science teacher at Armstrong Middle School.
Livingston, 49, was named interim chancery clerk after Banks died in September from an extended illness. She has worked in the chancery clerk’s office since 2000 and previously served as a deputy clerk over land records.
Mitchell, 68, serves as Oktibbeha County Youth Court’s intake clerk and as a part-time paralegal. She previously spent 33 years as the paralegal and office manager of the Brown Law Firm.
Ridgel, 58, worked for three years as a deputy clerk under Banks and retired with 20 years of paralegal experience.
Primaries for the respective Democratic and GOP nominations will be held on Aug. 8, and a runoff election could be held as needed on Aug. 29. Runoffs are needed when a candidate fails to receive 50 percent of the vote.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 7, and the winner will complete Banks’ term, which comes back up for election in 2020.
The chancery clerk’s salary is fee-based and set by statute not to exceed $90,000 annually.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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