Despite ominous storm clouds gathering early Tuesday, candidates looking to seek county office in 2023 made their way to the Alcorn County Courthouse to kick off the political season.
The first day of business for the new year brought the opening of qualifying for county and state offices. The deadline this year will be Feb. 1, a month earlier than normal for a big county election year due to a change in state law.
The mood for party affiliation is continuing a gradual shift away from Democratic. While “independent” was a popular choice among candidates four years ago, those who submitted qualifying documentation on Tuesday were running Republican by about a 2-to-1 margin, with the rest independent.
Only a few races emerged with more than one candidate on Tuesday. Attracting the most attention was chancery clerk, with incumbent Greg Younger not seeking reelection. Jumping into that race are Kenneth Brawner, the former tax assessor of 16 years, running as a Republican; Willie D. Justice, a longtime employee of the Chancery Clerk’s Office, running independent; and Keith Settlemires, an investigator with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and former election commissioner, running as a Republican.
The supervisor races have light opposition thus far – incumbent Lowell Hinton, First District, running independent; incumbent James Voyles, Second District, running Republican; incumbent Tim Mitchell, Third District, running Republican; incumbent Steve Glidewell, Fourth District, running Republican; and incumbent Jimmy Tate Waldon, Fifth District, with one opponent, Jackie Cooksey, both running Republican.
Chuck Hinds, who just took office to complete the last year of a term for Post 1 constable, filed his intent to run as a Republican, as did George Haynie, who recently held the post on an interim basis.
Others who filed through 3 p.m. Tuesday:
Tax assessor – incumbent Sandy Coleman Mitchell (independent)
Circuit clerk – incumbent Crystal Starling (independent)
Sheriff – incumbent Ben Caldwell (R)
Tax collector – incumbent Larry Ross (independent)
Justice court judge Post 1 – incumbent Jeremy Blaylock (R)
Justice court judge Post 2 – incumbent Jimmy McGee (R)
Constable Post 2 – incumbent Wayne Duncan (R)
Election commissioner Second District – incumbent John H. Peebles (independent)
Election commissioner Fourth District – incumbent Keith “Dude” Conaway (R)
Election commisioner Fifth District (special election) – Timmy D. Wilbanks. Wilbanks is currently serving as an interim appointee.
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