With more than 30 candidates qualified to run for Lowndes County offices, voters have some tough decisions to make. And for may citizens, at this point, many of the candidates are just names on paper.
The Lowndes County League of Voters is looking to change that with a candidate forum on Thursday night.
The League of Voters has invited all Lowndes County candidates to speak at the forum, to be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Columbus Municipal Complex, on Main Street.
“Not only is it important for citizens to vote, but understand the issues affecting their lives and the platform of each candidate,” said Tyrone Cunningham, president of the League of Voters.
The League also plans to endorse candidates as the primaries and general election approach. Those endorsements will be announced after Thursday”s forum.
Sixteen candidates have confirmed they”ll make remarks during the forum, said Cindy Lawrence, secretary for the League of Voters.
“We”d just like to educate the voters on the platforms of the persons running for office,” Lawrence said, noting the organization hosts similar forums every four years.
Primary elections for county and statewide offices are Aug. 2, with runoffs scheduled for Aug. 23. The general election is Nov. 8.
The most watched races appear to be for sheriff and superintendent of education, where incumbents are not seeking re-election and a flurry of candidates are seeking the positions.
Butch Howard is not seeking re-election after four terms as sheriff.
Howard has said “It”s just time,” of his decision to retire.
Several candidates have qualified for the sheriff”s race:
- Bo Harris (R)
Harris, 53, is a former 15-year game warden who will rely on his extensive law enforcement training and knowledge of the county.
- Sherman Vaughn (D)
Vaughn, 72, is retired from the real estate business but operated a surveillance program to catch vandals for the San Jose (Calif.) Police Department for a time.
- Selvain McQueen (D)
McQueen, 48, has led every division in the Columbus Police Department, with the exception of narcotics, since 1988.
- Joey Brackin (R)
Brackin, 56, is head of the Lowndes County Sheriff Office”s Metro Narcotics Unit and commander of a 19-county Mississippi Office of Homeland Security district.
- Anthony C. Nelson (I)
Nelson, 50, is the eight-year director of the Lowndes County Juvenile Detention Center and part-time investigator for the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office.
- Mike Arledge (R)
Arledge, 55, has spent 30 years in law enforcement as a highway patrolman, a narcotics agent, a Lowndes County Sheriff”s deputy and, most recently, a Lowndes County Justice Court judge.
- John Pevey (D)
Pevey, 55, is the former head of Metro Narcotics, a former cold-case homicide investigator and retired lieutenant for the Columbus Police Department, where he worked since 1978.
- Barry Goode (R)
Goode, 44, has worked 22 years in patrol for the Columbus Police Department.
Mike Halford”s sentiments were similar to Howard”s in deciding to retire from his post as superintendent. Halford is completing his second term. Like the sheriff” race, voters have several candidates to choose from in the superintendent”s race:
- Sam Allison (R)
Allison, 39, is the principal of New Hope Middle School and promises to identify the most effective means for raising test scores in each of the Lowndes County School District”s three regions.
- Edna McGill (R)
McGill, 55, is assistant superintendent for Lowndes County schools, a former principal and a former speech pathologist, who has worked in several school districts.
- Cliff Reynolds (D)
Reynolds, 47, is the principal at West Lowndes High School and a self-professed “student of improving test scores and administration.”
- Lynn Wright (R)
Wright, 58, is the former principal of New Hope High School and has served as athletic director, headmaster and teacher throughout his 36-year career.
- Rusty Greene (I)
Greene, 48, is a former coach, teacher, assistant principal and current athletic director for Columbus schools who has experienced Lowndes schools as an employee and a parent.
- Roger Hill (I)
Hill, 64, is the 34-year principal who guided Caledonia Elementary School to Star status.
Another race garnering attention is the District 5 supervisor race, where The Packet newspaper”s founder and longtime owner and editor Roger Larsen, 62 and an independent candidate, has qualified to challenge incumbent Leroy Brooks, a Democrat. Brooks, 57, is in his seventh term as Lowndes County District 5 supervisor. Brooks faces opposition in the primary election from Kenneth McFarland, 51, who is volunteer coordinator for Columbus schools and former Columbus Boys and Girls Club director.
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 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.