Elmus Stockstill has worked in Congressman Bennie Thompson's Greenwood office for eight years, and now it's time to make the next political step, he says.
That's why Stockstill is a Democratic candidate for Leflore County circuit clerk running against incumbent Trey Evans, who is an independent.
Stockstill said working with Thompson has allowed him to be of service in the community.
"I've touched so many people in Leflore County, helping them with VA benefits, with Social Security benefits, with housing benefits and so many other things," Stockstill told the Greenwood Voters League on Wednesday. "It's time for Elmus to move on to a bigger place."
Stockstill said that as circuit clerk, he would be committed to computerizing all public records. His other proposals include regularly conducting voter education efforts and registration drives in the community and providing internships for Mississippi Valley State University students.
Stockstill said his office would make sure jurors and voters are treated with the utmost respect. He suggested that recently there have been "a lot of troubles in the circuit clerk's office."
"On Nov. 4, 2003, you won't have to worry about affidavit ballots being thrown out for no reason," he said. "I'm here to change that.
"You won't have to worry about your sons and daughters showing up for jury duty and being treated poorly. I'm committed to serving all citizens of Leflore County and will make sure they are treated in a professional manner."
But Evans says his office works hard to make sure jurors receive the best treatment.
"We always treat everybody fairly and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible through a sometimes long and drawn out process," he said.
Evans said the other issues his opponent is raising are out of the domain of the circuit clerk's office. "He's trying to make an issue when there's really not one," Evans said.
Sorting through ballots is handled by party officials, Evans noted.
"Our records are here for election officials, whether they be Democrat or Republican, whoever is canvassing votes after election, to decide whether an affidavit ballot should be counted according to the information they've been given."
State Sen. David Jordan put the Voters League's support behind Stockstill.
"We love Bennie Thompson, and we love who works for Bennie Thompson," Jordan said. "We love Elmus Stockstill."
Jordan called the next speaker, county Tax Assessor Leroy Ware, "one of the most humble people I've ever met."
"He takes more heat than most folks, and he's always the same," Jordan said.
Ware urged voters to make their decisions based on the people running, not on their party label or race.
"Vote for the person, not because I'm a Democrat, not because I'm a Republican, not because I'm black, not because I'm white, but vote for the person who's the best candidate," Ware said.
Ware said his experience makes him that candidate. "This is about me and the job I've done here in Leflore County, not for the past four years, but for the past 18 years."
Justice Court Judge Larry "Blue" Neal, speaking last, emphasized his record of community service. That record includes serving Christmas dinner to the homeless and cleaning up Magnolia Cemetery for many years, a job recently adopted by a citizens group.
"That was one of my ways of giving back," Neal said. "We didn't just start working. We've been doing it for years."
Neal said that as a judge he has tried to break the cycle of disrespect, crime, poor education and drug among black youth in Leflore County.
