Six high-profile FC offices to be challenged during election cycle

The field has been officially set for the election process to move forward in Franklin County as 29 local residents have put their names on the line for voter consideration.

“The qualification period came to a close at the end of the day on Wednesday, Feb. 1,” Franklin County Circuit Clerk Warren Walker, who oversees the election process, said. “At a glance, there will be six contested races locally while 10 are unopposed.”

Republican and Democrat party primaries will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 8 with any runoff races to be decided on Tuesday, Aug. 29, according to Walker.

The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The battle for Franklin County Sheriff picked up a third candidate before last week’s statement of intent deadline as Reginald “Reggie” Cain, who serves as police chief in Bude, qualified as a Democrat for that post.

Two Republicans had previously filed to seek the office, including incumbent Sheriff Tom Tindle and challenger Joseph Cothren with the two facing off in the summer primary to determine who advances to November’s ballot.

The Tax Assessor-Collector’s office is being sought by three candidates — incumbent Talina King Matthews will face Luther “Luke” Bolin IV in a Democrat primary battle as to who will face Republican Julie Buckels in the general election.

Four of the county’s five supervisors will be challenged in their bids to return to office in 2024:

• District 1 — Democrat incumbent Ronald Hunt will face two Independent challengers in Gary Cameron and Jason Brumfield in the general election.

• District 2 — Republican incumbent Henry “Eddie” Stebbins will take on Independent candidate Chad Smith in the general election.

• District 3 — Democrat incumbent Mike M. “Dirt” Hunt has a party challenger in Eric Gant with the primary winner going on to face Republican Lynn Oglesby in the general election.

• District 5 — Republican incumbent Jimmie “Bodi” Bass has three other party opponents in Doug Berryhill, Eddie Foster and Norris “Jack” Jordan.

The Republican nominee from District 5 will go on to face Independent candidate M.L. Ezell in the general election.

Walker, as circuit clerk, and Jill Jordan Gilbert, who presently serves as chancery clerk, do not have opposition in their respective bids to seek re-election.

Other unchallenged office holders in Franklin County include Billy P. Gill as coroner; Rickey Van O’Quinn as Justice Court Post 1 judge; Larry Wallace as Justice Court Post 2 judge; Pat Larkin as District 4 supervisor; Charles Brown as Post 1 constable; and Dewayne Whetstone as Post 2 constable.

The non-partisan races for Franklin County Election Commission will involve two incumbents seeking to return to office.

Hilda Peeler qualified to run for the District 2 post while Faye Enzman announced her bid for another term in the District 4 seat. They, too, are unchallenged.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s office, which oversees elections of regional and state-wide candidates, released a report on Friday, Feb. 3 regarding who had qualified for the election:

• Senate District 37 — Democrats Albert Butler, the incumbent, and Shirley Sandifer will vie in the August primaries to claim at that seat.

Franklin County precincts in District 37 include Hamburg, Roxie, Knoxville, Antioch, Meadville, Wesley Chapel, Pine Grove, Eddiceton, Bude and Whittington.

The district also includes portions of Adams, Jefferson, Claiborne and Copiah counties.

• Senate District 39 — Republican Jason T. Barrett is unopposed in seeking re-election.

Precincts in the district include McCall Creek, Lucien, Bad Bayou and Cains and the district takes in portions of Lincoln, Amite and Pike counties.

• House District 85 — Three candidates have tossed their hats into the ring for this seat, which includes portions of Franklin, Jefferson and Claiborne counties.

Incumbent Democrat Jeffery Harness will battle fellow party member Richard Buford in the summer primary with the winner advancing to square off against Libertarian Michael Longnecker.

FC precincts in District 85 include: Antioch, Pine Grove, Eddiceton, Meadville, Bude and Whittington.

• House District 53 — Republican Vince Mangold is unchallenged in his bid for re-election.

Local precincts included in District 53 are Cains, McCall Creek, Bad Bayou and Lucien.

This district also takes in portions of Lincoln, Lawrence and Pike counties.

• House District 94 — Democrat incumbent Robert Johnson III will not be challenged during the election cycle.

District 94 precincts in Franklin County include Hamburg and Roxie, and takes in portions of Adams and Jefferson counties.

• House District 97 —Republican incumbent Sam C. Mims V will take on Democrat Thompson Benton in the general election.

Two local precincts are part of District 97, including Knoxville and Wesley Chapel. The district also encompasses portions of Adams, Amite and Pike counties.

In the race for District Attorney for Franklin, Adams, Amite and Wilkinson counties, Democrat incumbent Shameca Collins will face off against independent candidate Tim Cotton.