By Billy Davis

Smith Murphey and Stan Little, running in separate 17th District races for circuit court judge, led their opponents in Panola County vote totals, unofficial returns show.

Murphey and two other candidates were seeking a seat being vacated by retiring longtime judge Andrew C. Baker.

Panola vote unofficial totals showed Murphey with 4,873 votes or 47 percent, followed by Rhonda Mason Amis with 3,205 or 31 percent. Adam Pittman followed in the District 17-2, Place 1 polling with 1,543 followed by William Sanders Jr. with 798.

The Panola totals do not include approximately half of the 950 absentee ballots which were being counted at 10:24 p.m. Tuesday night.

Murphey outpolled his opponents in Tallahatchie and Tate Counties as well.

Unofficial Tate County totals were 3,580 for Murphey, 1,444 for Amis, 542 for Pittman and 547 for Sanders. In Tallahatchie County, Murphey received 1,576 votes; Amis 421, Pittman 150 and Sanders 1,004.

In the race for Circuit Judge, District 17, Place 4, Robert S. “Stan” Little led the Panola County vote with 4,138 or 43 percent, followed by Gerald Chatham Sr. with 3,176 or 33 percent. David Burns polled 2,278 votes in Panola County. “Place Four” in the 17th District is a newly created judge’s post.

In Tate County, Little received 1,758 votes, Chatham 2,920 and Burns 1,274.

In Tallahatchie County, Little received 1,535; Chatham 799 and Burns 622. 

In other judicial races, incumbent Donna M. Barnes won 3,361 Panola votes in her bid seeking re-elections as Appeals Court Judge, District 1, Position 2. Challenger Kelly L. Mims polled 2,228 Panola votes. The district includes the southern portion of Panola County.

For Appeals Court Judge, District 2, Position 1, incumbent Tyree Irving garnered 1,953 votes in Panola County versus 942 for his challenger, Ceola James. District 2 serves the north part of Panola County.