Two more candidates turned in paperwork at the Tate County Courthouse in the third week of qualifying for the 2023 elections.
Thus far, 31 people have secured a spot on the August primary ballot. The qualifying period ends Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m., when the courthouse closes for the business day.
Primaries will be held Aug. 8 with runoffs on Aug. 28, if needed. The general election will be on Nov. 7 with a Nov. 28 runoff date.
Two Republican candidates – Kyle L. Collinson and Senatobia attorney Leigh Ann Darby – are aiming for the District I Supervisor seat currently held by Republican Cliff O’Conner.
“Tate County is a business and should be run as a business but any elected official, including Supervisors, must first recognize that their first priority is to the voters,” Darby said.
O’Conner secured his first stint in office, succeeding longtime District I Supervisor Cam Walker who chose not to run after serving several terms, by narrowly defeating Darby in the 2019 Republican primary.
A trio of Republican candidates are running for the Tate County Sheriff’s spot. Brad Lance has publicly announced he won’t seek a fifth term. All three turned in the appropriate documents the first week of January when the qualifying period began.
The list of sheriff candidates includes current Chief Deputy Victor Byrd, Luke Shepherd and former Tate County Constable and Senatobia police officer Mike Jones.
The complete of election qualifiers as of Friday, Jan. 20:
(i) incumbent
District 1 Supervisor
Kyle L. Collinson, Republican
Cliff O’Conner (i), Republican
Leigh Ann Darby, Republican
District 2 Supervisor
Eddie Branan (i), Republican
Ashley Daniel, Independent
District 3 Supervisor
Tony Sandridge (i), Democrat
Crystalyn Shaun Todd, Democrat
District 4 Supervisor
Antonio D. Gross, Democrat
Jim Huestis, Republican
Mark Mcbee, Republican
Lee Turner, Republican
District 5 Supervisor
Arthur J. Boyd, Democrat
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
Chancery Clerk
Tim Hale, (i), Republican
Circuit Clerk
Kenda Blount, Republican
Stephanie Huddleson, Republican
Coroner
Ernie Lentz, Republican
County Prosecuting Attorney
Ginger M. Miller (i), Republican
Sheriff
Victor Byrd, Republican
Mike Jones, Republican
Luke Shepherd, Republican
Tax Assessor/Collector
Shirley Cathey, Democrat
Post 1 Justice Court Judge
Trey Manning (i), Republican
Post 2 Justice Court Judge
Carolyn Shead (i), Democrat
Bobby Taylor, Republican
District 2 Election Commissioner
Tammy F. Johnson (i), Independent
District 4 Election Commissioner
Edith Shirley Floate (i), Republican
