In 10 days, Lowndes County voters will go to the polls to choose which of four candidates will fill the unexpired term of former District 17 state senator Terry Brown, who died Sept. 4 after a battle with cancer.
Four men — Bill “Doc” Canon, Bill Gavin, Bobby Patrick and Chuck Younger — will be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 special election, which will be held concurrently with the state’s general election. District 17 comprises all of Lowndes County, although the district will have new boundaries next year when the current term expiries.
If the special election’s top vote-getter does not received a 50-percent-plus-one majority on Nov. 4, a run-off between the top two vote-getters will be held Nov. 25.
After the Oct. 6 qualifying deadline passed, the Dispatch asked candidates to provide information on a questionnaire. Their responses are downloadable as a PDF on this page.
Residents also will have two opportunities to hear from the candidates next week.
Mississippi University for Women will host a candidates debate at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Poindexter Hall. Candidates will be allowed to make a brief opening statement, address questions from the audience and close with a statement. Members of the The W’s student newspaper will serve as moderators for the event.
On Wednesday, the candidates will also make a brief statement and field questions at the Columbus Exchange Club. The candidates luncheon will be held at noon at Lion Hills Center and Golf Club.
Canon was Brown’s predecessor to the Senate and is a long-time Lowndes County veterinarian. Gavin recently retired as an instructor at East Mississippi Community College and currently serves as a Columbus City councilman. Patrick retired in 2011 after nearly 40 years as an insurance agent. Younger has farmed and ranched in Lowndes and Monroe counties for more than 30 years.
Brown, 64, a lifelong Lowndes County resident, had served in the state senate since 2004 and previously served in the state house of representatives (1998-2000). He became president pro tempore of the senate in 2012.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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