By Billy Davis
Panola Countians will learn tonight if an incumbent supervisor is keeping her seat – or if a well-known challenger mounted a come-from-behind win.

Polls opened today at 7 a.m. in Panola County’s District 2, where voters are choosing between incumbent Vernice Avant of Longtown and William Pride of Curtis in the special election.  

The Panolian will post the election results on its Web site, Panolian.com, following the final tally of six precincts.

Avant bested Pride and four other challengers in the November 3 election. Pride, although he finished second, trailed the incumbent by 334 votes going into today’s runoff.  

Avant also led at five of six precincts while Pride carried one, Pleasant Grove.

The special election is under way following the death in 2008 of longtime Supervisor Robert Avant.

Mrs. Avant, following the “widow” tradition, was appointed to her late husband’s seat, where she had been seated for 14 months by Election Day.
Polls close at 7 p.m.