Tate County voters are guaranteed to see a new sheriff, one new supervisor, a new circuit court clerk and a new coroner as qualifying ended Wednesday, Feb. 1, for county elections with a heavy slate of hopefuls seeking office.
Only five current officeholders escaped without an opponent as Chancery Court Clerk Tim Hale, county prosecuting attorney Ginger M. Miller, Post 1 Justice Court Judge Trey Manning and election commissioners Tammy F. Johnston and Edith Shirley Floate all ended the month-long qualifying period unopposed for reelection.
Four incumbents chose not to seek reelection including Sheriff Brad Lance, Circuit Court Clerk Eddie Hadskey, District 4 Supervisor Billy Saunders and Coroner Pat Kizziah.
Eleven additional applicants turned in paperwork during the final week giving Tate Countians a field of 49 candidates to choose from.
Primaries will be held Aug. 8 with runoffs on Aug. 28, if needed.
The general election is set for Nov. 7 with a Nov. 28 runoff date. Three more candidates tossed their hat in the ring to challenge for the Tate County Tax Assessor/ Collector position currently held by Joyce Collins. They include Christopher “Shannon” Brewer, Donnie Ross and Tracy Wallace Whitehurst. The race for sheriff gained another candidate as Elliott Bobo, a former Senatobia police officer, qualified as a Democrat. He will face the winner of the Republican primary – a three-way contest between Victor Byrd, Mike Jones and Luke Shepherd – in the general election.
The Supervisor races in District 4 and District 5 are loaded with a variety of candidates. Seven Republicans and one Democrat are vying for the District 4 spot, while three Republicans, two Independents and a Democrat are aiming for the District 5 position.
The final list of election qualifiers: (i) incumbent
District 1 Supervisor
Kyle L. Collinson, Republican
Cliff O’Conner (i), Republican
Leigh Ann Darby, Republican
William Kirksey, Democrat
District 2 Supervisor
Eddie Branan (i), Republican
Ashley Daniel, Independent
Demetrius Garrett, Democrat
Ron Williams, Republican
District 3 Supervisor
Tony Sandridge (i), Independent
Crystalyn Shaun Todd, Democrat
District 4 Supervisor
Zander Billingsley, Republican
Robert Carpenter, Republican
Antonio D. Gross, Democrat
Jim Huestis, Republican
Mark McAbee, Republican
Boden McGee, Republican
Keith Murphree, Republican
Lee Turner, Republican
District 5 Supervisor
Arthur J. Boyd, Democrat
Benjamin R. Hamilton, Republican
Henry Harrison, Independent
Joshua L. Hood, Independent
Daryl Ricks (i), Republican
George (Dick) Stepp, Republican
Post 1 Constable
Bob Brownlee (i), Republican
Shane Whitehead, Republican
Post 2 Constable
Ben Bryok (i), Republican
Derrick Richardson, Democrat
Chancery Clerk
Tim Hale, (i), Republican
Circuit Clerk
Kenda Blount, Republican
Stephanie Huddleson, Republican
Taylor V. Sandridge, Independent
Coroner Ernie Lentz, Republican
County Prosecuting Attorney
Ginger M. Miller (i), Republican
Sheriff
Elliott Bobo, Democrat
Victor Byrd, Republican
Mike Jones, Republican
Luke Shepherd, Republican
Tax Assessor/Collector
Christopher “Shannon” Brewer, Republican
Shirley Cathey, Democrat
Joyce Collins (i), Independent
Donnie Ross, Republican
Tracy Wallace Whitehurst, Republican
Post 1 Justice Court Judge
Trey Manning (i), Republican
Post 2 Justice Court Judge
Barry Perkins, Republican
Carolyn Shead (i), Democrat
Bobby Taylor, Republican
District 2 Election Commissioner
Tammy F. Johnston (i), Independent
District 4 Election Commissioner
Edith Shirley Floate (i), Republican
