Election Day Is Tuesday
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WATER VALLEY – The number of absentee voters has been above normal in the weeks leading up to the Tuesday, Nov. 8, General Election that includes two contested races – a special election for sheriff and the bid for the 2nd Congressional District.
“A special election brings out the voters,” Yalobusha County Circuit Clerk Daryl Burney noted about the early turnout.
Absentee voters can cast an in-person ballot in the circuit clerk’s offices for the remainder of the week. Burney’s offices in the Water Valley and Coffeeville courthouses will also be open from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday for absentee voting, which is the deadline.
The polls at the county’s 12 precincts will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on election day.
The non-partisan election for sheriff is the most talked about race on the ballot with four candidates seeking the top law enforcement position in the county. The special election follows the death of former Sheriff Mark D. Fulco, who passed away in August 2021. Candidates include Brent Anderson, Luther Folson Jr., Jerimaine Gooch and Roger Pollan. If no candidate receives a majority of votes cast in Tuesday’s election for sheriff, the top two vote-getters will advance to a run-off election on Nov. 29.
The winner will serve 13 months to fulfill the remainder of the current four-year term that extends through the end of 2023. The campaign cycle will not end if the winner decides to seek a full four-year term, as qualifying for the 2024 – 2027 term will start in January for all candidates seeking to run for county offices.
In the second contested race on the ballot, Democratic incumbent U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson faces Republican challenger Brian Flowers in the congressional race. Congressman Thompson was first elected in a special election in 1993 and won the seat again in 1994. He has been reelected 12 times. Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District includes much of Western Mississippi.
Uncontested races on the November 8 ballot include:
• Incumbent Vicki B. Daniels is unopposed for Chancery Judge, District 3-2, place 2.
• Incumbent Mitchell M. Lundy, Jr. is unopposed for Chancery Judge District 3-2, place 3.
• Incumbent Smith Murphey is unopposed for Circuit Judge District 17, place 1.
• Incumbent Jimmy McClure is unopposed for Circuit Judge District 17, place 2.
• Jay Hale is unopposed for a special election for District 17 District Attorney (DA). With no opposition, Hale will take office as the DA for Panola, Tate, Tallahatchie and Yalobusha counties in January. Hale will have to qualify and run again in 2023 when the regularly scheduled DA election cycle falls.
Poll workers for the election are:
Beat One North: Lowedia Doolin (return officer, Patsy Stewart, Judy Sartain, Martha Telford, Barron Caulfield Jr., Doris Homes and Beverly Walker;
Beat One South: Deborah Bourn (return officer), Carl Upchurch, Earnestine Matthews, Mary Towers, Ellen Harper, Rodney Gray and Cheryl Gray;
Beat Two Water Valley: Colleen Craven (return officer), Eva Cook, Linda Pulley, Alice Williams, Erin Abbott, Cathy Magee and Irene Judson;
Beat Three Northwest: Jill Clark (return officer), Kathy Pullen, Reeda Cofer, Cathy Patton, Rebecca York, Terry Anthony and Robbie Parsons;
Beat Three Sylva Rena: Coulter Fussell (return officer), Connie Champion, Rose Bennett, Ora Lee Phillips, John Ferrer, Michael Ferguson and Kim Ferguson;
Beat Four Coffeeville: Doyle Varner (return officer), Claude Harris, Elizabeth Johnsey; Cathy Vaughn, Riva Shelton and Dorothy Holland;
Beat Four Oakland: Carolyn Tinner (return officer), Lizzie Earl, Pauline Smith, Freddie Winters, Stephanie Patterson and Gay Lynn Haynes;
Beat Five Coffeeville: Callie Hoop (return officer), Sandra Rains, Jean Farmer, Avis Dean and Sue Fly;
Beat Five Scobey: Vickie Camp (return officer), Ricky Camp, Tommy Hill and Pauline Jenkins;
Beat Five Scuna-Vann’s Mill North: Georgia Inez Russell (return officer), Sue Russell, Clara Gerard and Amanda Moore;
Beat Five Scuna-Vann’s Mill South: Emma Coleman (return officer), Julie Coleman, James Caulder and Diane Hill;
Beat Five Tillatoba: Sherry Cook (return officer), Essie Gary, Sharon Blair, Aaron Blair and Barbara Richardson; and
Resolution Board: Christine Fielder, Lamar Burgess, Tyler Hill, Suzette Ware and Peggy Kennedy.
