Republican Luke Shepherd endured a primary election – including its subsequent runoff – and a General Election to become the new sheriff of Tate County.
Shepherd, a major with the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department, completed the trifecta Tuesday, Nov. 7, earning 61 percent of the overall vote to defeat Democrat Elliott Bobo and claim the local sheriff’s seat held by Brad Lance the last 16 years. Lance chose not to seek reelection after serving four terms.
“Thank you to everyone that supported me along the way,” Shepherd posted on Facebook. “I could never have done it without the kindness and generosity of friends and family. The support and encouragement I received was humbling. So many people freely volunteered their time and resources to help. I am grateful for the trust you have put in me. I look forward to getting to work on January 1.”
Other than the District 3 Supervisor spot where current board president and Independent candidate Tony Sandridge was successful in his bid for reelection by defeating Crystalyn Todd, Republicans swept all races in Tate County.
Four new faces are joining Sandridge on the Board of Supervisors after the New Year. Three incumbents were defeated in August, while another did not seek reelection.
Local attorney Leigh Ann Darby defeated William Kirksey Jr. to claim the District 1 seat. Ron Williams earned the most votes in District 2 to defeat two other challengers –Demetrius Garrett and Ashley Daniel. Zander Billingsley is the new Supervisor for District 4 after he beat Antonio D. Gross. George W. “Dick” Stepp outlasted three challengers – Arthur J. Boyd, William Henry Harrison and Joshua L. Hood – for the District 5 spot.
Kenda Blount, a deputy clerk in the Tate County Circuit Clerk’s Office the last 30 years, secured four more years in that same department. She defeated Taylor Sandridge to become the new circuit court clerk, replacing Eddie Hadskey who is retiring after 25 years.
Incumbent Joyce Collins was unsuccessful in her attempt for a second term as Tate County Tax Assessor/Collector. Donnie Ross earned 46 percent of the total vote to knock off Collins and Shirley Cathey.
Bobby Taylor reclaimed his Post 2 Justice Court Judge spot, defeating incumbent Carolyn N. Shead by almost 1,000 votes. Taylor previously held the position for 14 years before losing to Shead in the primary election in 2019.
Incumbent Ben Bryok won his Post 2 Constable position by topping challenger Derrick Richardson.
One local race is headed for a runoff election Tuesday, Nov. 28, when only a handful of voters will head to the polls to decide the District 1 spot on the Tate County School Board between Wrennie Coker Foret and Robert Skipper. Neither was able to secure 50 percent of the casted ballots plus one vote among three candidates, including incumbent Sharann Gordon who lost her bid for reelection.
Martha Jeffries secured another term as the District 2 representative on the Tate County School Board by defeating Melody Denise Sipp.
Most of Tate County supported incumbent Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves who won a second term in office by holding off challenger Brandon Presley. Reeves earned 5,281 votes in Tate County to Presley’s 3,190.
Republicans have held the Mississippi governorship for the past 20 years. They hold all statewide offices and a wide majority in the Legislature.
Tate County General Election unofficial results
Sheriff
(R) Luke Shepherd – 5,356
(D) Elliott B. Bobo – 3,301
Write-In – 23
Circuit Court Clerk
(R) Kenda Blount – 6,104
(D) Taylor Sandridge – 1,931
Write-In – 41
Tax Assessor/Collector
(R) Donnie Ross – 4,083
(I) Joyce Collins – 2,797
(D) Shirley Cathey – 1,772
Write-In – 5
District 1 Supervisor
(R) Leigh Ann Darby – 1,262
(D) William Kirksey Jr. – 614
Write-In – 16
District 2 Supervisor
(R) Ron Williams – 1,042
(D) Demetrius Garrett – 313
(I) Ashley Daniel – 154
Write-In – 0
District 3 Supervisor
(I) Tony Sandridge – 747
(D) Crystalyn Shaun Todd – 685
Write-In – 5
District 4 Supervisor
(R) Zander Billingsley – 1,286
(D) Antonio D. Gross – 615
Write-In – 7
District 5 Supervisor
(R) George W. “Dick” Stepp – 1,044
(D) Arthur J. Boyd – 516
(I) William Henry Harrison – 249
(I) Joshua L. Hood – 22
Write-In – 2
Post 2 Justice Court Judge
(R) Bobby Taylor – 2,608
(D) Carolyn N. Shead – 1,696
Write-In – 6
Post 2 Constable
(R) Ben Bryok – 2,460
(D) Derrick Richardson – 1,852
Write-In – 6
District 1 Tate County School Board
*Wrennie Coker Foret – 411
* Robert Skipper – 256
Sharann Gordon – 215
Write-In – 14
District 2 Tate County School Board
Martha Jeffries – 650
Melody Denise Sipp – 447
Write-In – 13
* advance to runoff Tuesday, Nov. 28
