New challengers have emerged for Oktibbeha County’s circuit clerk, District 2 supervisor and coroner, meaning incumbents must now launch their own campaigns for re-election.
As of Friday afternoon, 29 candidates have filed qualification forms for various seats up for election this year.
Circuit Clerk Glenn Hamilton, a Republican, now faces opposition for his seat from E. Regina Evans, a Democrat.
Evans is a former chief deputy within the circuit clerk’s office under former leader Angie McGinnis. Hamilton earned his first term after defeating Teresa-Davis Roberson by almost 600 votes in 2011.
District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer, the longest-serving member and president of the county board of supervisors, is will face familiar foe Robert “Bubba” Lee Gray Jr., who filed as an independent candidate.
Trainer previously defeated Gray, who ran as a Republican, in the last county election by almost 700 votes.
Gray operates a family farm in the southeastern portion of the county.
June’s Democratic Primary could decide District 5’s supervisor seat if no Republican qualifies. Incumbent Joe Williams will face fellow Democrat Sylvester “Dewayne” Davis, an 18-year veteran of Starkville Fire Department.
A rematch of 2011’s closest race — the District 3 supervisor showdown between incumbent Marvell Howard, a Democrat, and Republic Dennis “Denny” Daniels — will occur in November if no other challengers emerge.
Howard secured a second term that year, defeating Daniels by three votes, while his Republican challenger previously staved off his GOP opposition, Benny L. Perkins, with a 404-172 margin in the Republican Primary.
Both men have military ties. Howard served in the U.S. Army, while Daniels joined the Mississippi Army National Guard.
Two in for coroner
Two Republicans – Doug Hamilton and Chris Pollan – have qualified for Oktibbeha County’s coroner race, while incumbent Michael Hunt, a Democrat, had not yet submitted his paperwork Friday.
Hamilton currently serves as Sturgis’ police chief and is a former 32-year veteran of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Pollan, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, spent 10 years examining financial institutions as a forensic and fraud specialist.
Gladney faces primary challenger
The county’s top law enforcement officer, Sheriff Steve Gladney, faces an Aug. 4 primary against former Chief Deputy George Carrithers. Both men qualified as Democrats earlier this month.
Carrithers served as former Sheriff Dolph Bryan’s right-hand man for decades until Gladney defeated the former sheriff, who took office in 1976, by about 400 votes in the Democratic Party’s runoff election four years ago.
Gladney would go on to win the 2011 general election, defeating Republican Rudy Johnson.
Justice court judge races crowded
Seven Democrats, including three incumbents, previously qualified for the county’s three justice court judge seats, adding more intrigue to the Democratic Primary.
Incumbent Judge William Anton “Tony” Boykin Jr. will face Gay Lynn Williams, a deputy court clerk, for the right to run as the party’s District 1 representative, while incumbent Judge James “Jim” Mills and local attorney C. Martin Haug will go head-to-head for District 3’s seat if no other Republicans qualify.
A three-way race for District 2’s justice court judge seat also emerged earlier this month, as incumbent Judge W. Bernard Crump will face challenges from Larnzy Carpenter, a former U.S. Marine with ties to county law enforcement, and Kennedy Neal, a longtime employee of OCH Regional Medical Center who served on the local airport board.
Both Boykin and Crump ran unopposed in 2011, while Mills retained his seat in a three-way race, defeating Republican Buddy Johnston’s second-place showing by almost 400 votes.
Other qualifiers
Two Democrats — incumbent Curtis Randle and challenger Andre Quinn — qualified for District 2 constable, and the primary winner will face Republican Tim Cook in November’s general election if no other candidates qualify.
Incumbents Shank Phelps and James Lindsey, will again run for their respective District 1 and District 3 constable positions.
Phelps, a Republican, won his election four years ago by almost 800 votes against Democratic challenger Curtis White, Randle defeated Cook by almost 900 votes and Lindsey ran unopposed.
Other incumbents who have qualified include District 1 Supervisor John Montgomery, District 4 Supervisor Daniel Jackson, County Prosecutor Haley Brown, Tax Assessor Allen Morgan and Chancery Clerk Monica Banks.
The qualification window for this year’s primaries and general election closes 5 p.m. Feb. 27. All candidates must be qualified electors of the territory in which they are running and never have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime.
Party primaries are scheduled for Aug. 4. November’s general election will occur on the month’s third day.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
