JACKSON – Governor Tate Reeves signed an order Tuesday morning setting Feb. 23 as the date of the special election for sheriff in two of the 12 precincts in Yalobusha County.
The Writ of Election signed by Reeves declares that the special election is a continuation of the Nov. 5, 2019 general election and Luther Gene Folson, Jr. and Mark D. Fulco are the only candidates who shall appear on the ballot.
The order follows the Nov. 5 ruling by the Mississippi Supreme Court affirming an earlier trial court decision to have a new election in the Beat 1 North and Beat 4 Oakland precincts. The candidates’ votes from the other 10 precincts in last November’s election will be added to the votes received in the special election. Fulco received 1,878 votes and Folson received 1,839 votes in the 10 precincts.
The governor’s order also references the supreme court’s ruling allowing newly registered electors in the two precincts to vote in the special election if they meet all legal requirements.
Voters in the Beat 1 North precinct vote at the railroad depot in Water Valley. Voters in the Beat 4 Oakland precinct vote at the Oakland fire station.
Fulco will remain sheriff of the county pending the outcome of the special election.
