Last Day Filings Include Changes, More Candidates

By David Howell
Editor

WATER VALLEY – Four new candidates qualified to run for county offices before the courthouse closed Friday at 5 p.m., marking the end of the qualifying period.

            The new candidates include Michael Stevens, who pulled out of the District 1 Supervisor race and switched to Circuit Clerk. He will face incumbent Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney in the Democratic Primary in August.

            Melvin Gary qualified to run for District 4 Supervisor as a Democrat. Gary’s entry into the race brings the field to four for District 4 Supervisor. He will face Timothy A. Booker, Sr., Otha Coffey, Leslie W. Doubleday and George W. Suggs on the Democratic ticket.

            John Forsyth qualified to run for District 2 Supervisor as a Republican. He will face Luther W. Coleman in the Republican primary for District 2 Supervisor. Running on the Democratic ticket in the same race are Luther G. Folson, Sr., Mark A. Gooch, Larry Joe Gray, Kenneth E. Rogers, Jason C. Sharp, Fred E. White and Richard “Rickey” Wood.

            The winners of the two primaries will compete in the November General Election.

            Another candidate withdrew from the District 2 Supervisor race. Hosea Bradford told the Herald circumstances had changed, prompting him to withdraw from the race.

            Robert Walker qualified to run for Coroner as a Democrat. Walker will face Wanda L. Smith and Ronnie W. Stark, also both running as Democrats.

            Other contested races in the county include:

            • District 1 Constable – Bennie “Ben” Box, Ralph Horton I and Larry C. Tritt, all running as Democrats;

            • District 1 Justice Court Judge – Gary Lloyd Tippit, Sr. and Janet Ross Caulder, both running as Democrats;

            • District 2 Justice Court Judge – R.S. “Steve” Riley and Perry Myrick, both running as Democrats;

            • County Attorney – Gail B. Barton (Democrat) and Daniel M. Martin (independent);

            • Sheriff – Luther Gene Folson, Jr., William “Lance” Humphreys and William Tyler Wortham, III, all running as Democrats;

            • District 1 Supervisor – Alan D. Rone, Scotty “Scrap Man” Aldridge, Michael H. Stevens, Phillip Tallant and Cayce Washington qualified to run as Democrats. Dennis Townes and Mickell L. Dunn qualified to run as Republican candidates in the same race, creating a second contested Republican Primary in August.

            • District 5 Supervisor – Gaylon Gray, Spencer Gunn, Jr., Mary V. Hartley and Andrew L. Wilks, all running as Democrats.

            There are four incumbents who are not facing opposition, all running as Democrats:

            • Chancery Court Clerk – Amy Fernandez McMinn

            • District 2 Constable – Randy Simmons;

            • District 3 Supervisor – John Lee McMinn Jr.; and

            • Tax Assessor/Collector – Linda Rae Shuffield.