January 3 opened the qualifying period for candidates running for statewide, state district, legislative, county, and county district offices.
Offices to be voted on this year include those of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture and commerce, public service commissioner, transportation commissioner, district attorney, senators, state representatives, sheriff, chancery clerk, circuit clerk, tax assessor, justice court judge, supervisor positions, election commissioners, and constable.
The qualifying deadline for candidates passed on February 1, which is one month shorter than for the previous election.
Primary elections for partisan candidates will be held on August 8 with necessary runoff elections to follow on August 29. The General Election is scheduled for November 7, and runoffs will be held on November 28.
Simpson County voter participation has been constant in recent elections, and the trend will likely increase with the large number of offices up for grabs this year.
Candidates wishing to be considered in the November election must register at the Simpson County Circuit Clerk’s office in Mendenhall. Voter registration applications are also available to be printed online at the Secretary of State’s website. These forms must be mailed to the Simpson County Circuit Clerk’s office.
The voter registration deadline for the August 8 party primary election will be July 31 by 5 p.m. The registration deadline for the general election will be October 9 by 5 p.m.
Of the 14 local races being featured on the ballot, six races will advance to the November General election with a clear winner.
The following offices have had only one candidate qualify as of press time with one day to go: Sheriff Paul Mullins, Coroner Terry Tutor, Constable Post 2 Christopher Jones, Circuit Clerk Witt Fortenberry, Tax assessor Jamie Reed Brewer, and Supervisor District 4 Donny Welch.
Two candidates qualified for the office of Chancery Clerk, incumbent Tim Gray and Tameika Smith. These two candidates previously faced each other last November in a special election to fill the remainder of Tommy Joe Harvey’s term as Chancery Clerk. Gray won that election and currently serves as Chancery Clerk.
Constable Post 1 will be decided in August between two Republican candidates, incumbent Randall Coleman and challenger Jamie Freeman. Justice Court Judge Post 1 will be decided between Brian Kennedy and Lori King. The Justice Court Judge Post 2 race will be between Incumbent Charles Savell and Tracey Seghini.
The Simpson County Board of Supervisors may have new faces following this election season. The office of Supervisor of District 1 produced three candidates. Incumbent Mitchell Chatman will face Curtis Skiffer and Mark Thames. Supervisor of District 2 will be decided between incumbent Danny Craft, Anthony J. Smith Jr., and Allen Maddox.
The office of Supervisor District 3 produced five candidates: Billy Smith, Wayne Womack, Danny Red Bankston, Greg Chatman, and Red Hosey.
Supervisor District 5 produced 5 candidates: Charlie Westmoreland, William Chalk, Daniel Ferguson, Mickey Welch, and Daniel Galle.
For more information contact the circuit clerk’s office at 601-847-2474.
