The race for Lowndes County Circuit Clerk is now a five-person contest after three Republicans qualified to run.
Margie Canon, Chuck Easley and Justin Shelton each qualified last week to run for the post, according to records obtained from the courthouse. The three Republicans join Columbus councilman Joseph Mickens, a Democrat, and independent candidate Tim Heard, Golden Triangle Planning and Development District director for computing services, in vying to fill the seat.
Haley Salazar, who has been Lowndes County Circuit Clerk for 24 years, is retiring at the end of this year.
Canon, Easley and Shelton share a party, but are basing their campaigns on different strengths. Canon is championing her patience, organization skills and desire to serve her community; Easley stands on a firm foundation of legal experience; and Shelton advocates his youth and fresh eyes.
Circuit clerk pay is based on fee collection and is capped at $90,000 per year.
Canon, 55, spent 29 years teaching students with special needs in Columbus. She achieved her National Board Teacher certification in 2003. She was named Lowndes County educator of the year and Columbus High School teacher of the year in 2008. She retired from classroom teaching in 2011 to care for her parents. She currently runs an education consulting service. Canon received her bachelor’s degree in special education and social science from Blue Mountain College and a master’s degree in special education from Mississippi University for Women.
“I know how to work with people,” Canon said. “I know how to motivate people. I would like an opportunity to serve the county I have lived in my whole life.”
Canon grew up in Lowndes County and is the daughter of long-time state senator Bill Canon. She is a member of the Lowndes County Republican Women.
Easley, 65, has 35 years of experience as a lawyer and judge. He served on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 2001-2008 and currently practices law in Columbus. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi, a master’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Mississippi. Easley has taught ethics to law students and served as the commitment attorney for Lowndes County.
“I bring a wealth of experience within the legal system,” Easley said. “I’m familiar with the county court system and the circuit court system.”
He said he hopes to use his experience to help streamline the circuit and county courts.
“We’re overrun with circuit cases and I think I can speed up the system and modernize it,” Easley said.
Shelton, 40, is the co-owner of the Columbus Packet and is the president of Justin International Products, a textile exporting company. He was defeated in the circuit clerk race in 2012 by Salazar. That race, he said, made him eager to throw his name in again.
“What I mainly want to bring to the table is youth and a fresh set of eyes,” Shelton said.
The Columbus native studied at University of Mississippi and East Mississippi Community College. Shelton currently sits on the Lowndes County Port Authority Board.
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