Brister among new qualifiers in county races
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, January 9, 2007
An incumbent and three challengers have added their names to thelist of qualifiers for Lincoln County’s 2007 elections.
Lincoln County School District Superintendent Terry Bristerqualified Thursday. The incumbent is the only candidate who hasqualified for that position.
The Justice Court judge race continued to heat up as the weekwore on.
The Post One Justice Court Judge position is vacant with JudgeJudy Case Martin’s public announcement that she will not be seekingre-election.
Businesswoman Trisha Jordan Weeks, a Brookhaven Democrat,qualified Thursday to add her name to candidate lists for thatoffice. Three Democrats, Ralph Boone, Art Likens and ValerieShelby-Sterling, qualified for the office on opening dayTuesday.
The Post Two Justice Court Judge office remains uncertain.Incumbent Judge Billy Joe “B.J.” Price has said he is undecided onwhether he will seek re-election. He has promised to announce hisintentions within the next two weeks.
Andrew Graham qualified Wednesday and Carl Brown Friday to joinfellow Democrats Ann Reeves and Chris King in seeking thatoffice.
Also Wednesday, Republican Ellis Dave Chatmon qualified tochallenge incumbent District Two Supervisor Bobby Watts, whoqualified Tuesday. Chatmon is only the second Republican to qualifyin this year’s county elections.
Incumbent District Four Supervisor Doug Moak received a secondchallenge Friday when Charles Davis joined Eddie Brown in hopes ofwinning the office. All three candidates are Democrats.
Other candidates who qualified during the opening weekinclude:
* Sheriff: Democrats Steve Rushing, the incumbent; Lynn Boyteand B.W. Pitts and Republican Terry Harper.
* Supervisor District One: Incumbent the Rev. Jerry Wilson.
* Supervisor District Three: Incumbent Nolan EarlWilliamson.
* Supervisor District Five: Incumbent Gary Walker.
* Chancery Clerk: Democrats Tillmon Bishop, the incumbent; andMaxine McCoy Jones.
* Circuit Clerk: Incumbent Terry Lynn Watkins.
* Tax Assessor/Collector: Incumbent Nancy Jordan.
* Coroner: Incumbent Clay McMorris.
* Constable Post One: Democrats Charles Ralph Smith, theincumbent; and Kelly Porter.
* Constable Post Two: Incumbent Lavon Boyd.
The office of county surveyor still has no candidates.
There was no change in candidate qualifying for the area’sregional elections since Tuesday.
In state legislative races, incumbent District 39 Sen. CindyHyde-Smith, D-Brookhaven, and District 53 Rep. Bobby Moak, D-BogueChitto, have qualified.
Incumbent District 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett, R-Brookhaven, hasnot qualified. He said he would announce his intentions Jan.22.
Incumbent District Attorney Dewitt “Dee” Bates Jr., D-McComb,has also qualified for re-election as prosecutor for the 14thCircuit Court District.
The qualifying period opened Tuesday and will remain open untilMarch 1.
The 2007 elections are for nearly all county and state offices.Primaries will be held Aug. 7 with an Aug. 28 runoff, if necessary.The general election will be held Nov. 6.