The final field of candidates for Lowndes County sheriff stands at four following Friday’s qualifying deadline for county races.
Eddie Hawkins, a Republican, and independent Anthony Nelson both have entered the race.
Hawkins is a lieutenant with the Mississippi Department of Narcotics, for which he has served 14 years as methamphetamine field coordinator.
“If I am elected, I will focus the resources on improving public safety while operating a budget sensitive department that will enhance Lowndes County,” he wrote in a statement to The Dispatch.
Nelson, a Columbus Police Department officer and former Lowndes County Juvenile Detention administrator, ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2011 and 2015, both times as a Democrat.
He did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Hawkins will join the recently promoted Chief Deputy Greg Wright and former Lowndes County Adult Detention Center administrator Rick Jones in the August Republican primary. The winner will face Nelson in the November general election.
Sitting Sheriff Mike Arledge opted not to seek election to a third term, and former Chief Deputy Marc Miley retired earlier this year.
Two other Republicans — current Lowndes County Adult Detention Center administrator Ryan Rickert and SWAT/narcotics task force head Archie Williams, both captains — qualified in January to run for sheriff. They both dropped out a week later, though, and endorsed Wright.
Brooks/Turner rematch
A supervisor seeking his 10th term will face a familiar opponent in November.
Marty Turner, a former Columbus councilman for Ward 4, qualified as an independent Friday to challenge Democrat Leroy Brooks for the District 5 supervisor seat.
Turner lost to Brooks in a contentious Democratic primary in 2015 — one that followed a campaign in which Brooks briefly had Turner removed from the ballot due to questions about his residency before local party officials ultimately certified Turner and returned him to the race.
Two years later, Brooks openly supported Fred Jackson, who derailed Turner’s city council re-election bid.
Turner told The Dispatch on Friday he thinks the time is right for him to return to public office.
“We were giving so much of our time and effort and blood, sweat and tears to the people,” he said. “The storm happened and we were forced back into the arena. … I’m for the people.
“I’m looking at the landscape and I see that, if this area is going to get better, there has to be some new blood in there,” he added. “There has to be somebody who can negotiate and understand the rules.”
Brooks has never run unopposed, and he considers Turner a “serious” opponent.
“But after 30-something years, people know my record,” he said. “They know what I stand for. I’m going to leave it in the hands of the voters. … I don’t think the people in District 5 will desert me.”
Other races
Local gym owner Oliver Miller is the lone Democrat running for District 2 supervisor.
Miller, who owns Miller’s Tae Kwon Do on College Street, is guaranteed a spot in the November general election, where he will face the winner of a three-candidate Republican field.
Republicans Clarence Ray Berry, James Lee Harrison and Nicolas “Trip” Hairston will face off in the August primary.
Miller did not respond to calls from The Dispatch by press time.
Sitting District 2 Supervisor Bill Brigham opted not to run for re-election.
In the chancery clerk’s race, Columbus Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens qualified as a Democrat.
He will face, in the general election, the winner of a three-person Republican primary between Cindy Eggar Goode, Jessica Lancaster Pierce and Andre D. Roberts.
Mickens said he remembers meeting Charles Jerome Younger, father of current chancery clerk Lisa Younger Neese, as a young boy. He said Younger’s “willingness to help everybody” stuck with him and inspired him to run.
“That’s what I want to do,” he said. “I’m committed to Lowndes County and its citizens and I want to serve them in a different capacity.”
Mickens ran unsuccessfully for circuit clerk in 2015.
Neese opted not to seek re-election and has endorsed Goode, who works as a deputy clerk.
William P. Starks II, a Democrat, will face either Courtney B. “Corky” Smith or Steve Wallace, both Republicans, in the November general elections for county attorney.
Lowndes County 2019 qualifiers as of March 1 (*Incumbent)
Chancery Clerk
Cindy Eggar Goode (R)
Andre D. Roberts (R)
Jessica Lancaster Pierce (R)
Joseph Mickens (D)
Circuit Clerk
Teresa Barksdale (R)*
Supervisor D-1
Harry Sanders (R)*
Steve Pyle (I)
Supervisor D-2
Nicolas “Trip” Hairston (R)
Clarence Ray Berry (R)
James Lee Harrison (R)
Oliver Miller (D)
Supervisor D-3
John Holliman (R)*
Tim Heard (D)
Supervisor D-4
Jeff A. Smith (D)*
Supervisor D-5
Leroy Brooks (D)*
Marty Turner (I)
Sheriff
Richard “Rick” Jones (R)
Greg Wright (R)
Eddie Hawkins (R)
Anthony Nelson (I)
Constable D-1
Randy “Soldier” Robles (R)
Chris Griffin (R)
Jason ‘Jake’ Humbers (D)
Constable D-2
Austin B. Strickland (R)
Spence Wallingford (R)
Joe F. Ables Jr. (D)
Constable D-3
Sonny Sanders (D)*
Coroner
Greg Merchant (R)*
Justice Court
Judge D-1
Chris Hemphill (R)*
Ben Kilgore (R)
Judge D-2
Ron Cooke (R)*
Judge D-3
Peggy Phillips (D)*
Tax Assessor-Collector
Greg Andrews (D)*
Sherman Vaughn (R)
County Attorney
Courtney B. “Corky” Smith
Steve Wallace (R)
William P. Starks II (D)
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