West Point attorney Lee S. Coleman defeated Nebra Porter to win a new judgeship in the 16th Circuit District in a runoff election Tuesday night.
Coleman garnered 9,293 votes, or 54 percent, to Porter”s 7,865 votes, or 46 percent, in unofficial results Tuesday night.
Lowndes, Clay, Oktibbeha and Noxubee counties are represented in the district. The seat is a newly created third judgeship.
The race was one of five deciding judgeships statewide.
Collins attorney David Shoemake defeated veteran Chancery Judge Larry Buffington on Tuesday in a runoff election for a south Mississippi judgeship.
Buffington had been on the bench for 16 years in the 13th Chancery District comprised of Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties.
In a south Mississippi runoff, Sumrall attorney Dawn Beam defeated Columbia attorney Scott Phillips to become a chancery judge in District 10, which includes Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties.
Beam succeeds Judge Sebe Dale Jr. of Columbia, who did not seek re-election after 32 years on the bench.
In the 13th Circuit District, Eddie Bowen, who was appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour after the death of Circuit Judge Robert Evans in July, defeated Collins lawyer Wilton McNair.
Covington, Jasper, Simpson and Smith counties make up the 13th Circuit District.
In a northwest Mississippi, Hernando lawyer Gerald W. Chatham defeated Stan Little for a new judgeship in five counties — DeSoto, Tate, Panola, Tallahatchie and Yalobusha.
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