Nine incumbents face no opposition to re-election after the deadline for qualifying for Leflore County offices expired at the end of the day Friday.
As the clock ticked past the 5 p.m. deadline, incumbent Tax Assessor Leroy Ware congratulated Circuit Clerk Elmus W. Stockstill Sr., as neither of them has an opponent in either the August primary or the November general election.
Other incumbents assured of being returned to office are Sam Abraham, District 1 supervisor; Vonzell Self, constable for the Central District; Steve Pernell, constable for the Northern District; Annie M. Conley, tax collector; Carlos D. Palmer, Justice Court judge for the Southern District; James Littleton, Justice Court judge for the Central District; and Jim Campbell, Justice Court judge for the Northern District.
Races drawing the most interest from candidates include the District 2 supervisor race. Longtime Supervisor Robert Moore was killed in a single-car crash in November, and his son, Reginald Moore, was appointed to fill out the term in office through the end of this year.
Besides Reginald Moore, a Democrat, the race has attracted Democratic candidates Willie E. Brown, Alonzo Evans and Larry “Blue” Neal. Those four will face off in an Aug. 6 primary. Lelavie Grayson Sr., who originally filed as a Democrat before changing his candidacy to independent, will not have to face competition in August and will move through to the Nov. 5 general election to face the winner of the Democratic primary.
Chancery Clerk Christine Lymon, a Democrat, saw three others file to take her job away. Lymon will face Johnny Lee Gary Jr. in the Aug. 6 primary. Filing as independents in the race and appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot are Mary Rice-Roberson and Debra Tate Hibbler.
Hibbler had to resign her post as election commissioner for District 5 to run for office, which, she said, is why she waited until a few minutes before the deadline to submit her papers. District 5 Supervisor Robert Collins will now submit to the Board of Supervisors a name to fill the election commissioner’s job.
Collins filed papers to switch his party affiliation from independent to Democrat and will face Ulysses Kelly in the primary. The winner of that race will face independent candidates Derrick “Chitchy” Chambers and Kevin “Hollywood” Hilton in the fall.
Incumbent County Prosecuting Attorney Richard A. Oakes, an independent, picked up some competition today as Kelvin Pulley filed as a Democrat. They will face off in the fall.
•Contact Gavin Maliska at 581-7235 or gmaliska@gwcommonwealth.com.
Candidates who qualified to run for office in Leflore County:
District 1 Supervisor
Sam Abraham* (R)
District 2 Supervisor
Willie E. Brown (D)
Lelavie Grayson Sr. (Ind)
Alonzo Evans (D)
Reginald L. Moore* (D)
Larry “Blue” Neal (D)
District 3 Supervisor
Anjuan Brown* (D)
Timothy O’Bryant (Ind)
District 4 Supervisor
T.W. Cooper (D)
Wayne A. Self* (Ind)
Eric Mitchell (D)
District 5 Supervisor
Robert Collins* (D)
Derrick “Chitchy” Chambers (Ind)
Kevin “Hollywood” Hilton (Ind)
Ulysses Kelly (D)
Circuit Clerk
Elmus W. Stockstill Sr.* (D)
Sheriff
Fredrick L. “Ricky” Banks* (Ind)
Demetrice Bedell (D)
Chancery Clerk
Johnny Lee Gary Jr. (D)
Christine Lymon* (D)
Mary Rice-Roberson (I)
Debra Tate Hibbler (I)
Constable (Central District)
Vonzell Self* (D)
Constable (Southern District)
Andrew McQueen* (D)
Chris Glass (D)
Constable (Northern District)
James Steven Pernell* (R)
Coroner
Debra Sanders* (D)
Eddie Martin Jr. (D)
County Prosecuting Attorney
Richard A. Oakes* (Ind)
Kelvin Cedell Pulley (D)
Tax Assessor
Leroy Ware* (D)
Tax Collector
Annie M. Conley* (D)
Justice Court Judge (Southern District)
Carlos D. Palmer*(D)
Justice Court Judge (Central District)
James Littleton* (D)
Justice Court Judge (Northern District)
Jim Campbell* (R)
