Watkins among latest to sign up in 2011 races

Published 7:00 pm Sunday, February 6, 2011

One of the few remaining incumbent holdouts finally turned inher papers and another lawman filed to seek the sheriff’s officelast week during the fifth week of qualifying for 2011elections.

Lincoln County Circuit Clerk Terry Lynn Watkins on Fridayqualified to run for a fifth term in office, and retired statetrooper Johnny Leggett filed to seek the office of Lincoln Countysheriff. Watkins is thus far the only candidate in the race forcircuit clerk, while Leggett’s announcement made a three-wide racefor the sheriff’s office.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought and I just decided Friday wasthe day to qualify,” said Watkins, a Democrat.

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Watkins was previously indicted on charges of embezzlement aftera state audit report found more than $130,000 missing from heroffice. The indictment was quashed in a hearing on Jan. 6 after thejudge appointed to the case found the document too vague tocontinue to trial.

Leggett, meanwhile, begins his candidacy for sheriff hardly oneweek after retiring from the Mississippi Highway Patrol at theconclusion of 24 years on the highway. The father of three lawmen -two troopers and one Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy – said he’sbeen contemplating a run for sheriff for the last 10 years, and henow faces incumbent Steve Rushing and Brookhaven policeman MahundisBrice.

“I just want an opportunity to be the sheriff, to enforce thelaws in Lincoln County and keep the people as safe as I can,” saidLeggett, a Democrat.

Leggett wasn’t the only man in an MHP uniform to get involved inthe county’s political scene last week.

MHP driver services officer Chris King launched his bid forLincoln County Justice Court Judge in Post Two, becoming only thesecond Republican running for county office. His entry into thePost Two race makes that competition a three-man event amongretired state trooper and court officer Carl Brown and businessmanRoger Martin.

After 31 days of qualifying, the number of Lincoln Countycandidates seeking county, district and statewide offices has grownto 35, with several races heavily contested.

No new candidates have qualified to run for Lincoln Countysupervisor, where the number of runner stands at 10. District TwoSupervisor Bobby Watts is facing challenges from Don Smith andJimmy Diamond, while District Five Supervisor Gary Walker isrunning against Benjie J. Smith and Dudley Nations.

Charles Davis is challenging district Four Supervisor Doug Moakfor his seat at the board. District One Supervisor the Rev. JerryWilson and District Three Supervisor Nolan Williamson are so farrunning unopposed.

Lincoln County School District Superintendent Terry Brister isalso yet to gain an opponent, and neither has Lincoln CountyCoroner Clay McMorris. Lincoln County Surveyor Joe Byrd is likewiserunning alone.

Three candidates are running for the job of Lincoln County TaxAssessor/Collector – State Bank officer Becky Bartram, BrookhavenCity Clerk Mike Jinks, the only other countywide office-seeker, andtax office employee April Byrd Williford.

Incumbent Post One Justice Court Judge Ralph Boone is facingchallenges from sheriff’s deputy Charles Ralph Smith, Jr., andretired Brookhaven policeman Joe Portrey. A case of judicialmisconduct against Boone is pending before the Mississippi SupremeCourt.

Six lawmen continue in races for the county’s two constablepositions. Incumbent Post One Constable Kelly Porter is challengedby former jailer Bruce Smith and policeman Clint Earls, while PostTwo incumbent Lavon Boyd faces deputy Kirby Ebbers and paroleofficer Troy Floyd.

In district races, District 92 Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven,is thus far the only local legislator to qualify. DemocraticDistrict Attorney Dee Bates is likewise the only candidate forprosecutor in District 14.

District 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Brookhaven, is the county’sonly statewide candidate. She’s seeking the office of theCommissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.

Incumbents absent from qualifying include Lincoln County TaxAssessor/Collector Nancy Jordan, Lincoln County Chancery ClerkTillmon Bishop and Post Two Justice Court Judge Ann Reeves.

The qualifying deadline for county offices is March 1.

Party primaries are scheduled for August 2, with runoffs whereneeded on August 23. The general election is November 8.