Controversial tablets won’t be used yet

By John Howell
When Panola County voters go to the polls next Tuesday they will check in with the traditional poll books, not the electronic tablets the county recently purchased. Use of the electronic tablets has been postponed until November, Panola Circuit Clerk Melissa Meek-Phelps said.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 25 voting precincts for party primaries that will select the county’s circuit clerk and select nominees for either the party runoff elections on August 25 or the November 3 General Election.

“Everybody can vote,” Circuit Clerk Melissa Meek-Phelps said Wednesday. She said that she had encountered some voters who held a misconception that if they vote in the Democrat or Republican primary, they will not be able to vote for an independent candidate in the November General Election.

Circuit Clerk
Meek-Phelps is being challenged in her bid for a second circuit clerk term by Latessa S. Salter. Since both are Democrats and no Republican or independent candidates are seeking the office, Tuesday’s election will determine the final outcome of that race.

House District 11
Tuesday’s Democratic Primary will also determine who will represent House District 11. Incumbent Lataisha Jackson is seeking re-election against a challenge by Michael Cathey.
The Democratic ballot also includes contested local races for Senate District 11, Panola County Sheriff, Supervisors in Districts Two, Three, Four and Five, Second District Justice Court Judge and Constable.

Senate District 11
Clara Dawkins-Davis and James “Jimmy” S. Edwards Jr. are challenging incumbent Senator Robert L. Jackson for the District 11 seat. If no candidate receives a majority August 4, the winner will be chosen in the August 25 runoff election.

Panola County Sheriff
Roger Vanlandingham and Mark Whitten are seeking the office of sheriff in the Democratic Primary. The winner will face independent candidates incumbent Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby and former Panola County Sheriff Otis Griffin in November.

Chancery Clerk
Mike Darby is unopposed in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Chancery Clerk. His name will not appear on the August ballot. He will face incumbent Jim Pitcock, who is seeking re-election as an independent in the November General Election.

Supervisor, District One
District One Supervisor James Birge is unopposed in the Democratic Primary. He will face independents David W. Arnold and Nicholas Hardy in November.

Supervisor, District Two
Vernice Black-Avant is seeking re-election as District Two Supervisor against challenges by William Pride and Roger L. Salter in the Democratic Primary. If no candidate receives a majority, the nominee will be selected in the August 25 runoff and then face independents Tim Holliday and Keith Mothershed  in November.

Supervisor, District Three
In District Three, Boyce “Crow” Crowell is challenging incumbent John F. Thomas who is seeking re-election in the Democratic Primary to his second term as supervisor. The winner of Tuesday’s election will face independent candidate John McCollum and Republican nominee Ken Williams on November 4.

Supervisor, District Four
In District Four, incumbent Supervisor Kelly Morris is seeking to hold his seat in the Democratic Primary Election against challenges from Keith Moore, Jerry Perkins and Donald Phelps. The Democratic nominee will be selected in the August 25 runoff if no candidate receives a majority August 4. Then he will face Republican nominee John O. Greene and independent candidates Joe Horton, Mike Moore and Whit Tidwell on November 4.

Supervisor, District Five
Incumbent Cole Flint is seeking re-election as District Five Supervisor in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary against a challenge by Deliley Gatson. The winner of Tuesday’s election will face independent Ted Stewart in November.

Justice Court Judge
In Panola’s Second Court District, Charlie Baglan, Ernie Capwell, Jason Chrestman, Donnie Shaw, Paul Shivers, Terry Smith and Mike Wilkie are seeking nomination in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary Election. Again, if no candidate receives a majority, the August 25 runoff will determine the Democratic nominee who will then face independents Chuck Tucker and James Weaver in the November General Election.

Constable
Also in Panola’s Second Court District, incumbent Raye Hawkins is seeking re-election in the Democratic  Primary as Constable against a challenge from Albert Perkins. The winner will face independent Earl Burdette in the November General Election.

Unopposed incumbents
Democrats unopposed for nomination will not appear on the ballot. They are incumbents District One Constable Buck Harris, Second District Justice Court Judge Mike Wilson, Tax Assessor/Collector David Garner, Coroner Gracie Gulledge and County Attorney Gaines Baker, all of whom are without November opposition and are re-elected.

Upticket Democrat races
The Democratic ballot will also include three candidates seeking nomination as Governor: Robert Gray, Valerie Adream Smartt Short (we are not making this up), and Vicki Slater.
Democrats seeking nomination as Lieutenant Governor are Jelani Barr and Tim Johnson.
Democrats with no primary opposition who will go into the November General Election as nominees are Charles E. Graham for Secretary of State, Jim Hood for re-election as Attorney General, Jocelyn Pepper Pritchett for State Auditor, Addie Lee Green for Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Brandon Presley for re-election as Northern District Public Service Commissioner, Danny Woods for Northern District Transportation Commissioner, John William Champion for re-election as District Attorney, District 17, Cristen Hemmins for District Nine Senator, and Georgio Proctor for District 14 Senator.