Two candidates qualified on Monday to run for Lowndes County circuit clerk, according to records The Dispatch obtained from the circuit clerk’s office.
Columbus Ward 2 councilman Joseph Mickens qualified as a Democrat for the election, while Golden Triangle Planning and Development District director for computing services Tim Heard will run as an independent. Both are vying to replace Haley Salazar, who will retire at year’s end after serving 24 years in office.
Qualifying for county offices began on Monday, and the deadline for candidates to qualify is 5 p.m. Feb. 27. All incumbents for county offices, other than circuit clerk, also qualified on Monday.
Mickens, serving his second term on Columbus City Council, owns Floor Specialist in Columbus. He said he studied business for two years at East Mississippi Community College. While he commended Salazar for her tenure as circuit clerk, he said he is confident he can fill her shoes.
“It’s something I’ve been mulling over for a year or more,” Mickens said. “This is a very prestigious position, and not just anyone can fill it. I believe I have the capacity and the capability to run that office.”
Heard said he has worked with GTPDD for 21 years, where he has provided computing services for all seven counties in the planning district, including Lowndes. He said he’s worked specifically with Salazar’s office during that time.
Heard earned his bachelor’s in computer information systems from Alabama State University and his master’s in computer technology from Mississippi State University. Prior to joining the GTPDD staff, he worked stints as director of academic computing at Mississippi University for Women and as a computer analyst at EMCC.
“I feel I can help continue the process that Haley started in that office, as far as technology is concerned,” Heard said. “I’ve always been impressed with the way she’s run that office, and I believe I can keep that going.”
Incumbents who qualified for county offices on Monday include (party affiliation in parenthesis):
Harry Sanders (R), District 1 supervisor; Bill Brigham (R), District 2 supervisor; John Holliman (R), District 3 supervisor; Jeff Smith (D), District 4 supervisor; Leroy Brooks (D), District 5 supervisor; Mike Arledge (R), sheriff; Greg Andrews (D) tax assessor/collector; Lisa Younger Neese (R), chancery clerk; Allison Kizer (R), county attorney; Greg Merchant (R), coroner; Lynn Wright (R), superintendent of education; Chris Hemphill (R), District 1 Justice Court judge; Ron Cooke (R), District 2 Justice Court judge; District 3 Peggy Phillips (D), Justice Court judge; Joe F. Ables Sr., Willie Saunders and Willie H. “Hoot” West (all Democrats), constables.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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