JACKSON - State Rep. Mary Ann Stevens of West, whose re-election run was marked by criticism of her tort reform efforts, has won another four years at the state Capitol.
Losing in party primary runoffs Tuesday were Sen. Joseph Stogner, R-Sandy Hook, and Reps. Randy Mitchell, D-New Albany; Mike Eakes, D-Philadelphia; and Zack Rushing, D-Tylertown.
Stevens, the House Insurance Committee chairwoman, captured 60 percent of the vote in a Democratic runoff Tuesday to defeat Kosciusko lawyer John Shaw for the House District 48 seat in Attala, Choctaw, Holmes and Humphreys counties. Shaw has served 17 years as Attala County's prosecuting attorney and the county supervisors' attorney.
In Carroll County, Stevens received 459 votes, or 73.4 percent. Shaw received 166 votes, or 26.6 percent.
"I tried to not to respond to what my opponents said about me," Stevens said Tuesday night. "I just ran on my record, my seniority and my ability to accomplish things for my constituents in my district."
The race was decided in the runoff because Stevens faces no opposition in the Nov. 4 general election. It was among several legislative runoffs for Mississippi House and Senate seats.
"I lost," Shaw said Tuesday night. "I congratulate Mrs. Stevens on her victory and I appreciate all the people who voted for me."
Shaw ran unsuccessfully for the House and Senate decades ago. He said he ran again because he thinks special interest groups have too much influence at the Capitol. He also said lawmakers are spending money the state doesn't have.
Stogner lost to Sidney Albritton in the Republican runoff in Senate District 40 in Marion, Pike and Walthall counties.
"He ran a good race. He's a nice young man," Stogner said of Albritton, who received 53 percent of the vote. "The only issue he talked about was me being from Walthall County. I got a pretty good turnout in Marion and Walthall counties, but overall, he was able to beat me."
Stogner is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Two senators and five House members were in primary runoffs Tuesday. In the House District 99 race, Rushing, a first-term lawmaker representing Lamar, Marion Pike and Walthall counties, lost to former Rep. Robert Vince. Margaret Rogers defeated three-term Rep. Randy Mitchell for the District 14 seat in Pontotoc and Union counties. And four-term Rep. Mike Eakes lost to C. Scott Bounds for District 44 in Neshoba County.
There were 12 legislative runoffs without incumbents.
Stevens, who's been in the House for 23 years, said she's glad to have the opportunity "to continue to work hard and represent the entire district."
Stevens said that she didn't talk much about tort reform during her campaign, instead emphasizing other parts of her record.
Stevens was among a half dozen negotiators on bills to change Mississippi's civil justice system during last year's three-month special session. The session pitted trial lawyers and consumer advocates who wanted to leave the system alone against doctors, business groups and insurance companies who said Mississippi was known for "jackpot justice."
Stevens and other negotiators worked for weeks to reach compromises on two bills - one to limit jury awards against health care professionals and another to cap punitive damages against businesses.
Stevens on Tuesday said she had been unfairly criticized by people on both sides of the issue.
Shaw's campaign ads touted him as "a lawyer who supports tort reform."
Chuck Edwards of Lexington, the candidate eliminated in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary in District 48, mailed out fliers saying Stevens' work last fall had left senior citizens without legal protection in nursing homes. Campaign finance records show Edwards was supported by trial lawyers groups.
"We worked very hard for 83 days to reach a compromise… I was the only conferee that was not a lawyer," Stevens said.
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