Voters Return To The Polls Tuesday

By David Howell
Editor

WATER VALLEY – The final chapter in this year’s Democratic Primary will unfold with four county races in Tuesday’s runoff election.

            There is one county-wide race on the ballot, along with the contests for District 2 and 4 supervisor and District 1 Constable. In the county-wide race, former Water Valley Police officer Luther Folson is seeking to unseat Sheriff Lance Humphreys.  Folson trailed Humphreys by 193 votes in the three-way race on August 4. Humphreys has served as sheriff for nine years.

            In the constable race in District 2, Larry Tritt will square off with Ralph Horton after Tritt led the three-man ticket on August 4 by a slim margin of 36 votes. Tritt is currently serving as constable  after he was appointed in 2014 to fill the remaining year in the term following the resignation of Brent Anderson. Tritt was also appointed to the position in 2011 and served as constable for nine months after the incumbent, Charles Calder, passed away. Tritt did not seek election in 2011.

   In the District 2 supervisor race, Water Valley alderman Fred White will face Kenneth Rogers in the runoff. White has served as alderman for the City of Water Valley since 1987. White ran unsuccessfully for the position against incumbent Amos Sims in 1992. White is also a long-time business owner in Water Valley.

  Rogers is em-ployed at Oxford University Bank and also serves as pastor at Mt. Comfort C.M.E. Church in Waterford.  Responding to a questionnaire in last month’s Herald, both candidates indicated they would work as full-time supervisors.

            In The District 4 supervisor race, incumbent George Suggs is seeking a fourth term and will face Timothy Booker. Suggs narrowly led the heated five-man ticket in the August 4 Primary. Suggs captured 37 percent of the 882 votes cast with 330 votes. Booker earned 34 percent of the vote, trailing Suggs by only 29 votes.

            Responding to last month’s questionnaire, Booker is currently employed as a general contractor and local entrepreneur and reported he will be visibly present on a full-time basis if elected. The new terms start at the beginning of 2016.

            Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney reminds voters that if you voted in the Republican primary on August 4, you cannot switch over and vote in the Democratic primary runoff on August 25. Burney also reported that registered voters who did not go to the polls on August 4 are allowed to vote in the runoff.

            In Mississippi, registered voters are eligible to vote absentee because of age, health or work demands, or their affiliation with the U.S. armed forces. For example, voters who will be outside their county of residence on election day are entitled to vote by absentee ballot.

  Both courthouses will also be open from 8 a.m. until noon for absentee voting Saturday, which is the deadline to vote absentee.