Runoff Election Will Be Tuesday

By David Howell
Editor

WATER VALLEY – Although the most publicized races on the Nov. 2 General Election ballot have already been determined, voters in five north Mississippi counties including Yalobusha will return to the polls for the Nov. 23 runoff.

    Gerald Chatham Sr.  and Stan Little advanced to the runoff in the three-way race for Circuit Judge, District 17, Place 4 on Nov. 2 after Chatham received 41 percent  and Little received 36 percent of approximately 52,900 votes. A third candidate in the race, Water Valley attorney David Burns, received 22 percent of the vote in the election.

    The newly created judge’s post encompasses Desoto, Panola, Tallahat-chie, Tate and Yalobusha. In the General Election, Chatham carried Desoto, Tate and Tallahatchie counties. Burns carried Yalobusha County while Little carried Panola County.

    Burns has since endorsed Chatham, telling voters in a thank-you advertisement that he felt Chatham was the better man for the job.

    In the Herald ad published last week, Burns said Chatham is the “most qualified,” noting that Chatham had served 12 years as district attorney.  

    “I know Gerald is honest, has high integrity and is a strong Christian,” Burns also stated in the endorsement.

    Both courthouses in the county will be open until noon Saturday for absentee voting according to Yalobusha County Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney.

    “This is a very important race, I want to encourage voters in Yalobusha County to return to the polls on Nov. 23 to vote in the runoff,” Burney reported.

    “A judge’s election is very important to the people living in the county,” Burney added.