When voters go to the polls Tuesday, they’ll mark ballots for six local races — three Democratic primary races and three Republican primary races, as well one state senate and a state house primary.
Only three races, however, will definitely be decided Tuesday: The Lowndes County Supervisor in District 3 and 4 and the District 17 state senate.
Incumbent John Holliman faces Patrick “P.J.” Hughes in the District 3 supervisor Republican primary race, while incumbent Jeff Smith meets Joe Brooks in the District 4 supervisor Democratic primary.
In the District 17 Senate race, incumbent Chuck Younger faces Bobby Patrick in the Republican primary, the second time they have faced off for the seat in eight months. In November, Younger defeated Patrick in a runoff to fill the unexpired term of Terry Brown, who died Sept. 4.
All other races will have either a potential runoff Aug. 25 or face opponents in the Nov. 3 general election.
Of all races, the battle for the Republican nomination for circuit clerk has been the most expensive.
Five Republican candidates have spent a combined $60,088, according to the pre-election campaign finance reports.
Almost two-thirds of that total has been spent by Margie Canon whose mostly self-financed campaign spent $39,124.
The next closest candidate, Chuck Easley, has spent $9,110. Easley announced he was withdrawing from the race on July 8, but Lowndes County Circuit Clerk Haley Salazar said Easley had not notified her office and remains on the ballot.
Another candidate, independent Jackie Leach, informed the circuit clerk’s office by letter Tuesday that she was no longer seeking the office.
The winner of that Republican primary — which could require a runoff — will ultimately face independent Tim Heard and Democrat Joseph Mickens in the Nov. 3 general election.
While Canon’s campaign was easily the best funded of the local races, the biggest war chest in the area currently belongs to District Attorney candidate Scott Colom, who has $80,543 in anticipation of his general election contest against incumbent Forrest Allgood, whose campaign has raised $1,000 to date.
Campaign finance reports are required for all candidates. Local candidates file those reports with the circuit clerk’s office, while candidates for state/regional offices file their reports with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office.
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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