There were a few minor surprises in the Copiah County electionsafter the final numbers from Tuesday’s Democratic primary were in,but for the most part the election was uneventful.

Ellis Stewart’s 2,359 votes led the hotly contested coroner’srace with 33.71 percent of the vote. He will face Michelle White ina runoff August 28. White followed with 27.18 percent of the vote,or 1,902 votes. Also running for coroner were David Bufkin, whocarried 1,060 votes, Joe T. Maher with 841, and William M. Littlewith 833. The race was of special note after incumbent Coroner PhilHoward qualified, but withdrew from the running.

Incumbent Sheriff Harold Jones scored a decisive 51.89 percentvictory in his field of five, insuring there would be no runoff inthat race. Jones’ 3,706 votes were followed by Greg Ferrell’s1,716, which was 24 percent of the vote.

Also running for Copiah County sheriff were James Jefferson Jr.,with 833; Paul Stewart with 735, and Patrick Allen with 150.

Todd Mooney won the tax assessor’s race handily over JeffNewman, taking the race 4,989 to 1,845, or 72.98 percent to 26.99percent respectively.

The supervisors’ races showed Earl Dixon with 56.52 percent ofthe vote beating Billy Tanner Sr., 897-690, for the District Onepost.

District Two will go to November 6 with unopposed Republicancandidate Terry McAlpin and unopposed Democrat and incumbent TerryChannell.

Perry Hood continues his years of service as District Threesupervisor, also running unopposed.

District Four will see a runoff August 28 between Jimmy D.Strong, who scored 410 votes, or 33.97 percent, and Kenneth RayPowell with his 226 votes, which equaled 18.72 percent. Jazma T.Wheeler missed the runoff by seven votes, with a total of 220.

Arthur Evans, Sr., had 167 votes in the District Four race, andAugustus Jones had 100 votes. Trailing the field were Ceaser T.Jones and Jimmie L. Stovall, with 54 and 28 votes respectively.

The District Five race saw Jimmy Phillips defeating Burt Barry776-337 on the Democratic ticket, and Ben Vinzant running unopposedon the Republican ticket. Vinzant and Phillips will face each otherNovember 6.

In the constable races, incumbent Jimmy Dale White led hisDemocratic race in Post One with 1,497 votes, which was a solid43.8 percent. He faces a runoff against Kevin Thompson, who carried995 votes, or 29.11 percent.

Also running in the Constable Post One race were D.Q. Cubit, whohad 685 votes and John H. Newsome, with 238.

Post Two saw the return of long-time incumbent Ronnie Earls onthe Democratic ticket, carrying 64.07 percent of the vote overTommy Rials’ 905 and James Sebron McNair’s 345.

Earls will face Republican James Whittington in the November 6general election.

Justice Court Judge Post One saw a decisive 69.06 percent win byLillie V. McKenzie with 2,326 votes over Senetra Hicks-Murray andLarry Valliere, who had 690 and 351 respectively.

Chancery Clerk Steve Amos, Circuit Clerk Edna Stevens, andCounty Attorney Elise Munn all were unopposed in their bids forre-election in both the primaries and the general election.Superintendent of Education Ricky Clopton, Tax Collector April S.Holloway, and Justice Court Judge Post Two Vicki Bass Ramsey werealso entirely unopposed.