Two new qualifiers have submitted their paperwork to run for Lowndes County offices.
New Hope Middle School Principal Sam Allison has signed up to run for superintendent of education, while county mechanic Anthony Sanders will challenge for Jeff Smith”s District 4 Supervisor seat.
Allison, 39, has been the principal at NHMS since 2008. The New Hope native began teaching in 1993 at Carrollton, Ala., High School after graduating from Mississippi State University. He also received his master”s degree from MSU.
Allison transitioned into administration in 2005 when he took the assistant principal job at NHMS. He”s been working toward a role at Lowndes County School District”s Central Office ever since.
“I have a lot to learn whether I (run for superintendent) now or 10 years from now. Standards are always going up and you have to find ways to reach your students,” said Allison. “As far as raising test scores, you have to constantly look at what you”re doing, look at people with better scores and what they”re doing and what might work in your district.”
With three distinct school regions in Lowndes County — Caledonia, New Hope and West Lowndes — Allison said the same method might not work for each area and if elected he”ll need the faculties in each school to buy into his policies in order to be successful.
Allison is currently the only Republican to qualify for superintendent of education. West Lowndes High School Principal Cliff Reynolds has qualified as a Democrat. Current Superintendent Mike Halford has yet to decide whether he”ll seek re-election.
Sanders, 42, a heavy equipment mechanic for the county road crew, has his sights set on jobs and recreation.
The southside Columbus native believes freshman Supervisor Jeff Smith has not done enough to reach out to the entire district.
“He”s mostly into sports and stuff with Crawford and west Lowndes. He”s doing more for Crawford than he is for District 4 over here,” said Sanders.
If elected, the former Ward 4 City Council candidate hopes to work with supervisors to restore parks for children and community centers for seniors in District 4. He also plans to identify county services which are currently contracted out which could be re-staffed with local workers.
Anderson will face Smith in the Democratic primary.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
