Time to vote next Tuesday


Thursday, August 2, 2007
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Time to vote next Tuesday

By BARRY BURLESON
and SUE WATSON

Marshall County voters go to the polls next week to select their choices in several county, district and state races.

Democratic and Republican primaries are set for Tuesday, Aug. 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and circuit clerk Lucy Carpenter doesn’t really know what to expect as far as turnout.

“This is one election I can’t read,” said the longtime county official. “It’s like no other I’ve ever seen. It’s very quiet, and I’ve never really experienced that before.”

As of Friday, only 95 had voted absentee. That number, at this stage, is normally much higher.

“Four years ago our office would have been full of absentee voters,” Carpenter said. “Maybe it means everybody is going to come to the polls and vote.”

Absentee voting is available in the circuit clerk’s office during regular office hours this week – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – plus the office will be open this Saturday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon for absentee voting. Saturday at 12 will be the deadline for absentee voting.

Runoff elections for the primaries will be held August 28.

In the primaries, voters must choose either a Democratic or Republican party ballot. But voters do not have to be active members of either party to vote in the primary elections.

Winners of the party primaries and Independent candidates will then be on the November 6 general election ballot.

Anyone who has not voted since the 2003 countywide election is urged to check their voting status at the circuit clerk’s office, Carpenter said.

She also reminds voters to call her office (662-252-3434) if their address has changed since they last voted to make sure they vote in the correct precinct. Otherwise, voters who have changed addresses may have to vote by affidavit.

A third reminder, Carpenter said, is to get plenty of practice on the new Diebold voting machine either at the circuit clerk’s office or on the Internet at www.marshallcoms.org.

Those who do not know where their voting precinct is can look at a map and get directions by going to the site, as well. Also, viewers can see a complete list of candidates, local and statewide, on the site.

Click on Election Central in the column on the left side of the home page to go to the place where instructions are located for practice voting, to look up a map or to read directions to the voting precinct, or to find voter registration information.

Marshall County has 113 voting machines, including enough extras in case there is a breakdown of a machine at the polls. But election day will run much smoother for voters and poll workers if voters are prepared to vote this election on the new Diebold voting machines, she said.

Practice voting until you are familiar with the machine, Carpenter said.

A complete list of all candidates running for state and local offices in Marshall County follows.

List of Candidates
Marshall County

Democratic Primary
August 7, 2007

Governor – William Bond Compton Jr., John Arthur Eaves Jr., Elmer L. “Louis” Fondren, Fred T. Smith.
Lieutenant Governor – James R. “Jamie” Franks Jr.
Secretary of State – Robert H. “Rob” Smith, Jabari A. Toins, John O. Windsor.
Attorney General – Jim Hood.
State Auditor – Todd Brand, Jacob Ray, Mike Sumrall.
State Treasurer – Shawn O’Hara.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce – Rickey L. Cole.
Commissioner of Insurance – Gary Anderson, George Dale.
Northern District Transportation Commissioner – James K. “Ken” Hurt, Larry Lee, William R. “Bill” Minor.
Northern District Public Service Commissioner – Rick Clifton, Michael E. Parker, Brandon Presley.
District Attorney, Dist. 3 - Ben Creekmore.
State Senate, Dist. 2 – Henry Boyd Jr., Steven “King” Fisher, Conway Moore, Bill Stone.
State House of Representatives, Dist. 5 – Kelvin O. Buck.
State House of Representatives, Dist. 13 – Jack Gadd.
Chancery Clerk – C.W. “Chuck” Thomas.
Circuit Clerk – Lucy Carpenter.
Coroner – James Richard Anderson, John Garrison, James C. Green.
County Attorney – Fred M. Belk Jr., Shirley Byers.
Sheriff – Jimmy Brown, Kenny Dickerson.
Tax Assessor – Juanita M. Dillard, Casey Hillmer, Annie Moffitt Lucas, Donna Fitch Olita.
Tax Collector – Betty Byrd.
Superintendent of Education – Michael E. “Mike” Hamblin, Don Randolph.
Supervisor, Dist. 1 – Willie Flemon Jr., Richard Novarese.
Supervisor, Dist. 2 – Eddie Dixon.
Supervisor, Dist. 3 – Keith Taylor.
Supervisor, Dist. 4 – George Powell, George Zinn III.
Supervisor, Dist. 5 – Ronnie Joe Bennett, Lake Johnson, Kenneth McMullen, Jimmy Siddall, Rex Yeager.
Justice Court Judge, North District – Winfred J. Allen, Eugene D. Brown Jr., Clencie L. Cotton, Mae Garrison.
Justice Court Judge, South District – Ernest Cunningham.
Constable, North District – Johnny Fitch, Billy Jamieson, Mark Turner.
Constable, South District – Don Cothern, Terry Kilpatrick.

List of Candidates
Marshall County

Republican Primary
August 7, 2007

Governor – Haley Barbour, Frederick L. Jones.
Lieutenant Governor – Phil Bryant, Charlie Ross.
Secretary of State – Delbert Hosemann, Mike Lott, Jeffrey Rupp, Gene Sills.
Attorney General – Al Hopkins.
State Auditor – Stacey E. Pickering.
State Treasurer – Tate Reeves.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce – Max Phillips, Lester Spell.
Commissioner of Insurance – Mike Chaney, Ronnie D. English.
Northern District Public Service Commissioner – Mabel Murphree.
State Senate, Dist. 2 – Ralph H. Doxey.
State House of Representatives, Dist. 5 – James Richard Dunworth, Hoyt Johnson.
State House of Representatives, Dist. 13 – John Helmert.
State House of Representatives, Dist. 52 – Tommy Woods.
Chancery Clerk – Tim Wilson.
Supervisor, Dist. 1 – Scott Foster.
Supervisor, Dist. 5 – Edward Overall.
Constable, North District – George W. Kahrs.

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