Newell, Houston race too close to call
Nov. 7—Lauderdale County residents headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide who will represent them on the state and local level for the next four years. Unofficial results including absentees ballots show voters elected to go with fresh faces in some races and stick with incumbents in others.
Incumbent Republican Wayman Newell and Democrat challenger Craig Houston were neck and neck in the race for District 2 Supervisor with no clear winner determined Tuesday night. After all precincts and absentee votes were counted, Houston was in the lead by seven votes. A final determination of the winner will have to wait until affidavit ballots are counted, which will likely take several days.
In the race for Lauderdale County Sheriff, Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun beat out his opponent Gerald Johnson with 13,066 votes to Johnson's 4,622. Calhoun has a long career of service as second in command to Sheriff Billy Sollie, who is retiring at the end of the term.
In the coroner's race, Republican Stella McMahan beat Democrat Rita Jack with the candidates receiving 11,220 votes and 6,576 respectively. Both women were vying to succeed longtime coroner Clayton Cobler who decided not to seek another term.
Two other races with no incumbent also went to the Republican candidates, with Justin "JJ" Anders winning the District 1 Supervisor seat and businessman Nick Lisi taking the District 1 Justice Court Judge race.
A new face will also be joining the county's five-member election commission when the new term begins in January after challenger Brenda Faye Harris beat incumbent Consuella Rue with 1,720 votes to 946 for District 2 Election Commissioner.
In statewide races, more Lauderdale County voters chose to give incumbent Republican Gov. Tate Reeves another term over Democrat challenger Brandon Presley. Reeves received 10,038 votes to Presley's 7,721.
Lt Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Secretary of State Michael Watson, State Auditor Shad White, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and State Treasurer David McRae also won Lauderdale County voters' confidence for another four years.
Voters throughout the state chose similarly, with Reeves, Hosemann, Watson, White, Fitch, Gipson, Chaney and McRae comfortably winning reelection.
Lauderdale County voters also opted to keep their current state delegation, with Senators Tyler McCaughn (R-31), Rod Hickman (D-32) and Jeff Tate (R-33), as well as Representatives Billy Adam Calvert (R-83), Charles Young Jr. (D-82) and Steven Horne (R-81) running unopposed.
In the race for House District 45, which was previously filled by Independent Michael Evans, Democrat Keith Jackson was declared the winner with 3,649 votes. Although Republican candidate Michael Cassidy received more votes in Lauderdale County, with 990 to Jackson's 899, other areas of District 45, which also includes portions of Kemper, Neshoba and Winston counties, helped Jackson take the lead.
In other state district races, incumbent Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons was chosen to represent the central district for another term beating challenger Ricky Pennington.
The race for Central District Public Service Commissioner has yet to be called as of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday with incumbent Brent Bailey trailing challenger DeKeither Stamps by 2,392 votes.
In other races:
—Kassie Coleman was reelected as district attorney after running unopposed;
—Tommy Horne was reelected as county attorney after running unopposed;
—James Rainey was reelected as tax assessor after running unopposed;
—Carolyn Mooney was reelected as chancery clerk after running unopposed;
—Doris Spidle was reelected as tax collector after running unopposed;
—Donna Jill Johnson was reelected as circuit clerk after running unopposed;
—Josh Todd was reelected District 3 supervisor after running unopposed;
—Joe Norwood Sr. was reelected District 4 supervisor after running unopposed;
—Kyle Rutledge was reelected District 5 supervisor beating challenger John Temple;
—Ondray Harris Sr. was reelected District 2 justice court judge after running unopposed;
—Paul Earley II was reelected District 3 justice court judge after running unopposed;
—Buck Roberts was reelected District 4 justice court judge after running unopposed;
—Tommie Coker was reelected as District 1 constable after running unopposed;
—Ondray Harris Jr. was reelected as District 2 constable after running unopposed;
—Mike Myers was reelected as District 3 constable after running unopposed;
—Lee "Chuck" Roberts was reelected District 4 constable after running unopposed;
—Gloria Dancy was reelected District 4 election commissioner after running unopposed;
Contact Thomas Howard at thoward@themeridianstar.com
