Another board of supervisors’ race is contested.
Greg Fulgham has qualified to run for District 1 supervisor. He’ll join sitting Starkville alderman Ben Carver in the Republican primary for the seat.
Both are vying to replace three-term incumbent John Montgomery, who is instead running for tax assessor/collector.
Fulgham, a lifelong resident of the Double Springs community, has served as the district’s election commissioner for 14 years. He was required to step down from that post to run for supervisor.
He has operated Fulgham’s Farrier Service for 15 years.
Fulgham’s decision to run comes from a deep-seated respect for his district’s supervisors dating back to his childhood.
“My grandmother had a little country store when I was a kid, and I remember the supervisor then … would come in and I would listen to him talk,” he said. “When John (Montgomery) stepped down, I decided to throw my hat in the ring.”
If elected, he said he would work toward ensuring taxpayers are getting more adequate return on their investment, especially concerning roads in areas with higher property values.
“A lot of roads in the county don’t seem to be getting the attention they need for the money we spend,” he said. “When my land tax is twice as high as someone else’s, and I’m paying that in and not getting the return on it, that’s hard to justify. … I know as a county, we’ve got to take care of everybody, but the percentages are a little off.”
As of press time, District 5 was the only other contested supervisor race.
Meanwhile, the District 1 constable race picked up a fourth candidate.
Shannon Williams, a lifelong Maben resident, has qualified as a Republican, joining Joe Morse and Kenneth Watkins in the growing primary. Democrat William Ford is also running.
All are vying to replace incumbent Shank Phelps, who is instead running for sheriff.
Williams has worked more than two decades for the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office. He owns W5 Trucking.
“I am seeking the office of the District 1 constable because with my 24 years in the sheriff’s office working in various capacities from jailer, deputy through lieutenant, I am qualified to work with the court systems and provide timely and efficient service to the citizens of Oktibbeha County,” he wrote in an email to The Dispatch.
Incumbent coroner Michael Hunt and incumbent District 2 election commissioner Sissy Smitherman have both applied for reelection. Neither of them have an opponent yet.
The qualifying deadline is Feb. 1. Party primaries are Aug. 8, and the general election is set for Nov. 7.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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