STURGIS — More than 60 people braved a windy, often rainy Saturday to speak to voters at the Diane Jackson Memorial Park.
A large slate of Oktibbeha County candidates attended. The forum also saw a smattering of state candidates, including those for governor, secretary of state, attorney general and several legislative seats.
The event was put on by the Sturgis School Alumni Association and the town of Sturgis and started at 10 a.m. Each candidate was allotted about 10 minutes to speak.
16th Circuit District Attorney
Democrat incumbent Scott Colom and Republican challenger Jase Dalrymple were the only two candidates to speak.
Colom said he has been successful at putting violent offenders behind bars.
“I’ve got a record of results,” Colom said. “When there is an indictment there is a 95% chance I’m going to get a conviction. If someone goes to trial, there’s an 85% chance my office gets a conviction. I’m not one of those district attorneys who don’t try cases. I’ve tried the most cases in my office.”
Dalrymple said Colom was too soft on crime.
“He is very lenient on crime,” Dalrymple said. “From 2019-22 there were 588 felony arrests in Oktibbeha County and only 225 of those individuals ever spent one day in jail. These people are getting arrested, and based on (Colom’s) leniency they’re allowed back on the street to commit more crimes.”
Republican Chuck Easley is also running.
Senate District 15
Challenger Alan Sibley was the only candidate to attend.
Sibley said he is a conservative activist, and he doesn’t think the senate is conservative enough.
“We have a two-thirds majority of Republicans in both chambers,” Sibley said. “That’s a supermajority. We still cannot get conservative legislation passed. Most of the bills die in committee or on the calendar. If they make it to the floor, they usually pass in a weaker form.”
He is running against incumbent Bart Williams.
Both are running as Republicans.
Sheriff
Republican Shank Phelps and Democrat John Rice both attended.
“I’ve got 30 years of experience with law enforcement in this county,” Phelps said. “I love working for the people of this county. When you love what you do, you don’t treat it as a job. You help people. … People come to your office needing help, and you help them.”
Rice said Oktibbeha County had a youth problem.
“We have a juvenile problem,” Rice said. “The thing that is so unique about me is I have an ability to unite, and I want to unite Oktibbeha County. … Crime is simple. You need a patrol car. You place a patrol car in any area and crime stops. The toughest part is we have to help each other to help each other.”
Tax Assessor
Republican John Montgomery and Democrat Joelen “Joey” Walker both attended.
Montgomery, who is finishing his third term as District 1 supervisor, is now running for tax assessor.
“I know the tax office is going to be a different challenge,” Montgomery said. “But my education and my years of service as a firefighter and as supervisor will help me make sure we have a friendly, helpful staff. I’m going to do everything I can to help the people who come into that office.”
Walker said her previous experience in banking, and working in tax offices in both Lowndes and Oktibbeha counties, make her a good fit for the office.
“If you come into the tax assessor’s office, you are going to see me and I am going to help you,” Walker said. “There are times when people come in that have nothing to do with taxes, but if they ask me to look at something … if they need something in the city, I will reach out to the city and help them.”
District 1 supervisor
None of the District 1 candidates were scheduled to speak, but Republican Ed Whitehurst attended and asked to speak anyway.
“We need to make our infrastructure as strong as possible,” he said. “We can’t pave every road in the county, I know that, but we need to be progressive in maintaining the ones that are there until they can be improved or resurfaced or paved.”
On the Republican ticket Whitehurst is facing incumbent Ben Carver and challengers Greg Fulgham and Sammy Wade Jones. Democratic candidates include Ronnie Clardy and Erik Young.
District 4 supervisor
Austin Check is running as a Republican.
“I will not raise your taxes,” Check said. “… I want to make sure we get full value for our tax dollars. If we spend a dollar, we should get at least a dollar of value back. When we say we don’t have the money to do road projects, it’s because we go back and do things over and over again because they weren’t done right.”
Little, also running as a Republican, was unable to attend, but her husband, David Little, spoke on her behalf.
“She is a political newcomer, and I think that’s a good thing,” David Little said. “Some people get in there and make it a career. New and fresh ideas are always welcome. … She’s already met with (Sturgis Mayor Leah Brown) about speeding, and she’s already working for you guys.”
District 3 Justice Court Judge
Incumbent Democrat Marty Haug and Republican Brian Michael Lindner were present, but Republican Will McNeel was not.
Haug, a licensed attorney, said he had brought order to a disorderly situation in justice court.
“I was called to justice court nine years ago because it was not working well,” Haug said. “It was inefficient. The application of the law was never there. It was more of a kitchen table court than an actual court. I got sick and tired of watching people come to court and having injustice served upon them.”
Lindner said he wanted to help those who came from broken homes or faced other disadvantages.
“A judgment in court can change the trajectory of a family member’s life,” Lindner said. “I want to have resources for the 53% of fatherless homes in America. When they come before the justice court judge, we’re dealing with the byproducts, not the root of the problem.”
Justice court judges do not have to have a law degree.
District 1 constable
Republican Joe Morse was the only candidate to attend. He retired from the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office after 12 years of service and now works as a bailiff.
“I feel like I can do the job, and I want to do it for the people of Oktibbeha County,” Morse said. “I want to do the job in a timely manner in order to keep justice court flowing.”
Morse is facing fellow Republicans Kenneth Watkins and Shannon Williams, as well as Democrat William Ford.
District 3 constable
Democrat Ronald A. Hannah and incumbent Republican James Lindsey were both in attendance.
“I have 14 years of law enforcement background in Moss Point, Pascagoula and Starkville,” Hannah said. “I’ve been walking with the Lord a long time, and I’m not tired yet. Whatever I do in my church I plan to do in my community.”
Lindsey also touted his years of experience. He is a retired Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a former Sturgis police chief.
“I like to get out and help people in need,” Lindsey said. “I enjoy working with people. If you want to be respected, you’ve got to respect people.”
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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