Bank of Holly Springs

Runoff election Nov. 27

Voter participation was up statewide November 6 for a midterm election, and the same held true in Marshall County.

Fifty-three percent of the registered voters in the county participated in the election process. That’s almost 12,000 votes cast.

“Voter turnout was comparable to one of our county elections,” said circuit clerk Lucy Carpenter. “It was good to see.”

Two races will move to a runoff election Tuesday, Nov. 27.

Still in the running for Chancery Court judge, District 18, Place 1, are Sarah Liddy and Larry Little. The district covers five counties – Marshall, Benton, Calhoun, Lafayette and Tippah.

One of the U.S. Senate seats from Mississippi also moves to a runoff, with Mike Espy versus Cindy Hyde-Smith on the ballot. The winner will serve the final two years of a term started by Sen. Thad Cochran, who retired in April.

There will be no runoff for the Marshall County School Board seat, District 3. Lender Luse is the winner of the three-person race, which goes to the highest vote-getter, according to Carpenter.

Unofficial totals showed Luse with 428 votes, Bubba Brown with 325 and incumbent Janice Wagg with 304.

Re-elected on November 6 were Roger Wicker, U.S. Senate; Trent Kelly, U.S. House 1st Congressional District; and J. Kelly Luther, Circuit Court, District 3, Place 2.

Unopposed on November 6 were Donna M. Barnes, District 1, Position 2, judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals; Bob Whitwell, Chancery Court, District 18, Place 2; Andrew K. Howorth, Circuit Court, District 3, Place 1; John A. Gregory, Circuit Court, District 3, Place 3; and Leslie King, Marshall County School Board, District 4.

Things went smoothly throughout last week’s election day, according to Carpenter.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. and the first precinct box, Hudsonville, arrived at the courthouse at 7:25 p.m. Three others, North Holly Springs, Red Banks and Bethlehem, weren’t too far behind. There are 24 pre­cincts in the county.

Tabulations from the voting machines, plus the absentee ballots, were totaled by about 10:30 p.m. The election commission then wrapped up the count by going through affidavit ballots on Wed­nesday and Thursday of last week.

Carpenter urges everyone to continue the strong voter participation in the runoff, which is now less than two weeks away.

Absentee ballots will be available Saturday, Nov. 17, and the circuit clerk’s office will be open until noon that day. It will also be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday of next week, Nov. 19-21.

The circuit clerk’s office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

It will be open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Nov. 24, which is the deadline to vote absentee in person in the office.

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
PH: (662) 252-4261
FAX: (662) 252-3388
www.southreporter.com