By Billy Davis

North Panola Schools trustee Lydia Smith enjoyed a convincing win Tuesday in a run-off election.

Unofficial returns showed Smith won 81 percent of 269 votes cast at precincts in Sardis. Her challenger, Patsy L. Jackson, won 49 votes, or 18 percent.

The school board post represents portions of West Sardis, East Sardis, South Sardis, and Pleasant Mount.

Smith is a retired North Panola schoolteacher. She was appointed to the school board in March following the resignation in February of North Panola trustee Billy Russell, who quit when the district was moving toward conservatorship.

The runoff was necessary after neither candidate enjoyed a majority of votes in the November 4 general election. A total of 1,069 votes were cast in that election, which included third-place finisher John Clark Hudson.

Smith will return to the school board along with longtime trustee Pearl McGlothian, who won re-election November 4.