Five days after qualifying for county elections began, just two Lowndes County incumbents are opposed.
District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks is opposed by Columbus Municipal School District Volunteer Coordinator Kenneth McFarland, while Chancery Clerk Lisa Younger Neese will face East Mississippi Community College student Andre Deforrest Roberts.
West Lowndes High School Principal Cliff Reynolds is the only candidate, thus far, to qualify for Superintendent of Education. Current Superintendent Mike Halford said this morning he has yet to decide whether he”ll seek re-election.
“I”ve got a lot of years in. You don”t ever say never,” he said.
Brooks, who is contemplating leaving politics in 2016 if elected to an eighth term, is accustomed to running opposed. He said Thursday he”s surprised more candidates aren”t challenging for his chair. He”ll face McFarland, a Democrat, Aug. 2 in the primary election.
McFarland, 51, is in his third year working for CMSD. He worked prior as director for the Columbus Boys and Girls Club. The Shubuta native served 10 years in the Army and majored in communication at Savannah State University.
“Unity and vision” are the foundation of McFarland”s campaign.
“I believe there”s a lot the county could be doing. We”ve lost ground to Tupelo and now we”re losing ground to Starkville. I”d like to see us compete,” he said.
McFarland has assisted in multiple political campaigns since moving to Columbus. He lost his sole bid for office in 2009 when he was defeated by Kabir Karriem for Columbus Ward 5 councilman.
Neese, who began working for the county 28 years ago as a deputy clerk, is seeking her third term as chancery clerk.
Roberts, 37, a psychology student at EMCC, is a former county road crew employee. He currently performs freelance landscaping and transportation but does not work for Joe Brooks, his uncle, owner of City Wide Cab Co.
If elected, he hopes to use his position as chancery clerk to “help people who need it.”
“A lot of people need help with things like jobs,” said Roberts.
The father of four will face Neese in the Democratic primary.
Reynolds, 47, also a Democrat, will tout his 19 years in education — eight years in administration — in his bid to helm K-12 education for Lowndes County.
He spent 12 years at NHHS, where Halford was principal, five years in Oktibbeha County schools and one year at Jackson Public Schools. He credits Lowndes County”s success to Halford”s leadership but believes he can take the system “from a good district to a great district.”
“I am a student of improving test scores and administration. With my leadership we can refine some things we”re currently doing,” he said.
Two men familiar to Lowndes County voters have qualified to replace Sheriff Butch Howard, who is retiring at the end of his third term.
Bo Harris, 53, a Republican, is a former game warden and conservation officer currently residing in New Hope. He currently owns and operates a contract painting business with seven employees.
Harris ran against Howard three years ago. He believes his 15 years as a game warden have provided the law enforcement experience and knowledge of Lowndes County necessary to perform as sheriff. He points out that game wardens attend the same academy as other law enforcement officers then receive additional training specific to their job.
Sherman Vaughn, 72, a Democrat, is retired from the real estate business. He opposed Howard eight years ago.
Vaughn worked with the San Jose Police Department while living in California, helping to operate a surveillance program to catch vandals. Through working with ranking members of the SJPD he says he “got a good idea how the department is run.”
Now he hopes to bring new ideas to the LCSO.
Two candidates have also qualified to replace County Prosecutor Tim Hudson, who will remain in his roles as Columbus City Prosecutor and attorney for the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors but will not seek re-election with the county.
Former Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Chuck Easley will run as a Democrat and attorney Shane Tompkins will run as a Republican.
Tompkins, 37, deals primarily in criminal law, workers compensation and general civil litigation cases for the Studdard Law Firm. He has 10 years experience practicing law, with eight in Columbus. He also works with the youth court.
The Millsaps and University of Mississippi alum believes his experience will make the transition to county prosecutor an easy one.
Easley, also a University of Mississippi law school grad, served on the supreme court from 2001-2008. He was unavailable for comment for this story.
Wyatt Mills, a Republican, is the lone qualifier for District 2 Justice Court Judge. Incumbent Mike Arledge has not yet qualified.
Neither Mills nor Arledge could be reached for comment.
The deadline for qualifying is March 1. The primary election is set for Aug. 2, while the general election is scheduled for Nov. 8.
Qualifying incumbents include:
· District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders, Republican
· District 2 Supervisor Frank Ferguson, Republican
· District 3 Supervisor John Holliman, Republican
· District 4 Supervisor Jeff A. Smith, Democrat
· District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks, Democrat
· Circuit Clerk Mahala Salazar, Independent
· Chancery Clerk Lisa Younger Neese, Democrat
· Coroner Greg Merchant, Republican
· Tax Assessor Greg D. Andrews, Democrat
· Justice Court Judge District 1 Chris Hemphill, Republican
· Justice Court Judge District 3 Peggy Phillips, Democrat
· Constable District 1 Willie “Hoot” West, Democrat
· Constable District 2 Joe Ables, Democrat
· Constable District 3 Willie “Sonny” Sanders, Democrat
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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