Turnout Expected To Be Strong In Tuesday’s Election
U.S. Senate candidate Chris McDaniel campaigned at Hometown Pizza in Water Valley last Thursday, and even enjoyed a little baby talk with Casen Scero and dad, Randy Scero. McDaniel is a candidate in the special election for Senate seat vacated by Thad Cochran’s retirement and faces Cindy Hyde-Smith, Toby Bartee and Mike Epsy.
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – Voters in county will go to the polls Tuesday to elect two U.S. Senators along with several local races in what is expected to be heavy turnout.
Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney reported absentee voting in the county has been steady, with over 200 already casting a ballot by presstime Tuesday. Based on those numbers, Burney is predicting Tuesday’s turnout will rival the participation in elections for county positions held every four years.
At the local level, voters who live in Position Two in the Water Valley School District will choose between Rodney Phillips and Elizabeth “Betsy” Person. Phillips is currently serving as the Position Two Trustee following an appointment by the school board last December when Lamar Burgess resigned from the position.
There is also a contested school board race in the Coffeeville School District as Estella Ray Townes faces incumbent Roger L. Jackson, Sr. for Position Two.
Voters across the county will also weigh in on the race for District 17 Circuit Court Judge, Post 2, as incumbent Judge Jimmy McClure faces a challenge from Bob Morris in Yalobusha, Panola, Tate and Tallahatchie counties. McClure has been elected to the position three terms. Morris serves as an assistant district attorney for the 17th Judicial District.
Other contested races on the ballot include:
U.S. Senate
• Roger Wicker (Republican – incumbent)
• David Baria (Democrat)
• Danny Bedwell (Libertarian Party)
• Shawn O’Hara (Reform Party)
U.S. House of
Representatives District 2
• Bennie G. Thompson (Democrat – incumbent)
• Irving Harris (Reform)
• Troy Ray (Ind.)
U.S. Senate
Special Election
(Non-partisan because it is a special election)
• Tobey Bartee
• Mike Espy
• Cindy Hyde-Smith
• Chris McDaniel
Other candidates who are unopposed and will be on the ballot include:
Court Of Appeals, District 1, Position 2 – Donna M. Barnes;
Chancery Court Judge, District 3, Post 2 – Vicki B. Daniels;
Chancery Court Judge, District 3, Post 3 – Mitchell M. Lundy, Jr.
Circuit Court Judge, District 17, Post 1 – Smith Murphey
Circuit Court Judge, District 17, At-Large – Gerald W. Chatham, Sr.
The deadline to vote absentee is Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Circuit Clerk’s offices in Water Valley or Coffeeville as both offices will be open until noon. Burney said the planned power outage in Water Valley on Nov. 3 will not disrupt voting.
