House minority leader Bobby Moak, D-Bogue Chitto, was defeated by Republican Vince Mangold  in District 53 Tuesday night in unofficial returns. Moak has been a representative for 32 years.

Mangold had 4,322 votes out of 7,406, putting him at about 56 percent of the vote.

“It looks like the Democrats have great pick-ups in House seats statewide,” Moak said in a statement Tuesday night.  “I’m very proud to be a part of those with several more to be decided. As it stands at this time, the Republicans are no where near a super majority. In my particular race with the affidavit ballots that have yet to be counted, I’m behind and don’t personally see a win for me, mathematically-speaking. If that becomes a fact, then I’m proud that we had these pick ups in the House. I would take the same legislative stands again even if it meant the same outcome for me as tonight.”

Mangold said the overall message he got from his campaign is that people want a change. His focus is on education.

“The Republicans had that on their mind already,” Mangold said. “They had funded it more than they ever have or it ever has been for the last several years, so I think that’s going to continue.”

Mangold said he hopes to work with Republican leadership in Jackson to promote responsible spending.

“In doing so, I will work to grow now only our communities’ economy, but Mississippi’s economy to bring in additional revenue for the state,” Mangold said. “I will also investigate efficient and antiquated programs that are currently in place.”

In Lincoln County, Mangold won 50.47 percent of the vote, narrowly edging Moak by 45 votes.

 

Senate 39

Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, will be returning for another term after winning with 11,114 — about 64 percent — of 16,796 votes Tuesday night in unofficial numbers.

“I am very proud of the work that we have done, in the Legislature, especially having a real balanced budged where we did not depend on one-time revenues,” Doty said. “We have provided more money for education than ever before this past year. I think in the next four years we will have a lot of sessions and will continue to work toward more funding, and at what we can do to really make our educational system move up. And I think we’ve already made a lot of good progress in that area.”

Doty said in her previous term, she personally focused on reducing teen pregnancy in Mississippi.

“I think our teen pregnancy has — not necessarily just due to my efforts — but the teen pregnancy rate is down 20 percent due to a variety of factors,” Doty said. “But it is still too high in Mississippi, and I certainly will continue to work with the governor on that issue as well.”

Doty said she’s going to devote time in her next term to increasing job opportunities in southwest Mississippi, and she’s always looking for ideas.

“I love to sit down and talk over issues, and have a glass of ice tea or a cup of coffee. I like to know what my constituents — what their concerns are, and it is my job to take them to Jackson — the concerns, not the constituents, although I do like to have visitors.

“I think that’s what campaigning is really about, getting out and meeting your constituents and knowing what the concerns of the community are.”

In Lincoln County, Doty won 65 percent of the vote.