Lowndes County candidates touted their credentials and long-term goals Tuesday evening at a candidates forum in Columbus.
The forum, organized by the Columbus-Lowndes Political Action Committee, brought together 10 candidates in three races.
District 3 Justice Court Judge Peggy Phillips, the incumbent Democrat, pointed to her 1,500 hours of continuing education and said her “performance speaks for itself.”
She faces local attorney Monique Montgomery, who said she has practiced law in the county for 14 years, and has served as attorney of West Point and Noxubee County.
The third Democratic candidate, Leon Hines, withdrew from the race before the forum.
Democrat Lisa Neese, who has served as chancery court clerk since 2004, said she wanted to usher her office into a new technological age. One of her main concerns was making their computer system more accessible to the public and to employees from home.
“I”ll do anything to better Lowndes County and my office,” she said.
Her primary opponent, self-described “family man” Andre Roberts, said he wanted to use the position to bring jobs to the community and lower gas prices.
“I can”t tell you exactly what I”d do, but once I get in there, I”ll do my all,” he said.
Roberts and Neese disagreed about whether the clerk”s salary should be capped. Roberts said he didn”t think it should, while Neese said the current $90,000 cap should be maintained.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Susan Robinson in the general election.
In the Board of Supervisors District 1 race, incumbent board president and republican Harry Sanders faces Phillip Atkins in the primary, and independent Joey Pounders and Democrat Willie Petty in the general election.
At the forum, Sanders took partial credit for bringing industry and jobs to the county over his more than 11 years on the board, and said his experience at Sanders Oil Co. had helped.
“I think my leadership has a great deal to do with it,” he told the audience Tuesday.
Atkins, a local concrete contractor who is a member of the state Board of Contractors, said he would apply his skills and experience to “expand” Columbus and Lowndes County.
In the Board of Supervisors District 2 race, incumbent Republican Frank Ferguson faces Bill Brigham, husband of interim Mississippi University for Women President Allegra Brigham, in the primary.
Ferguson, who is seeking his second term on the board, said his two main concerns if re-elected would be to alleviate flooding at Air Base Hill and to finish paving district roads.
Brigham, who has 41 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, said he would focus on bringing in jobs and improving the quality of life — the two main concerns he”s heard going door to door.
The two seemed to disagree on whether to privatize the county”s road department, with Ferguson coming down tentatively against.
“Just because it saves money doesn”t always mean it”s the best thing to do,” Ferguson said.
In the District 5 race, incumbent Leroy Brooks and Kenneth McFarland both said they wanted to bring the community together.
They disagreed about having paid firefighters, with Brooks coming down in favor or having at least one firefighter on staff who could bring an engine to a fire to meet volunteers. McFarland said he was against privatization as a general rule.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face independent Roger Larsen in the general election.
After hearing the candidates, Lowndes County resident Susan Mackay said she got the answers she came for.
“I wanted to see for myself what they stood for, their qualifications and how they answered questions,” said Mackay, a former Columbus councilwoman.
Primary elections for county and statewide offices are Aug. 2, with runoffs scheduled for Aug. 23. The general election is Nov. 8.
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 46 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 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
READER FAVORITES
Related Photos
Mississippi State University Journalist in Residence Sid Salter moderated the forum, which also included candidates who had primary opponents in the chancery court clerk and District 3 justice court judge races. Photo by: Luisa Porter
