The special election for the state”s next Northern District Transportation Commissioner was on for today, despite concerns about icy roads.
Gov. Haley Barbour decided Monday not to reschedule the state”s three special elections, including a race for a state Senate seat in parts of Lee and Pontotoc counties and a state House seat in part of coastal Harrison County.
Polls will be open at 21 locations in Oktibbeha County, 22 in Lowndes County, 26 in Clay County and 25 in Monroe County from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The transportation race is to fill a vacancy created by the Nov. 1 death of Commissioner Bill Minor of Holly Springs. Seven people are running, including Starkville resident Mike Tagert.
Tagert has served the last three years as president of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Council and as administrator of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.
He faces John M. Caldwell Sr., of Desoto County, Dennis C. Grisham, of Tippah County, Joey P. Hood, of Itawamba County, Larry Lee, of Grenada County, Warner F. McBride, of Panola County, and Ray Minor, brother of the late commissioner.
The winner of the election will be one of three commissioners responsible for the policies, governance and budget of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
The Northern District encompasses 33 counties, including Oktibbeha, Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, Choctaw, Winston and Webster. Noxubee County is in the Central Mississippi District and is served by Commissioner Dick Hall. The Southern District is served by Commissioner Wayne Brown.
The winner today must receive at least 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate gets 50 percent, a runoff will take place Feb. 1 between the two candidates who receive the most votes today.
The turnout was low early Tuesday as only a few braved the chilly weather. Volunteers at Lee Middle School and the Mississippi University for Women Carrier Lodge in Columbus each reported only two voters by 8 a.m.
Lowndes County Circuit Clerk Mahala Salazar said she expected more voters later in the day.
“Everything”s going smoothly,” she said. “Now we just need voters.”
Political scientist Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, said winter weather could keep voter turnout low in the northern part of the state.
“Even in the best of weather, special elections don”t generate that much interest,” Wiseman said.
Barbour”s decision to continue with the special elections had circuit clerks scrambling Monday, trying to get precincts up and running by morning.
All precincts in Lowndes County weren”t ready until after dark Monday, and then only with the help of poll workers and others, Salazar said.
“Everybody pulled together,” she said. “It was just a mass, team effort.”
Staff writers Tim Pratt and Ryan Poe contributed to this story.
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