More than 20 Leflore County candidates have qualified in the first two weeks, and some incumbents already know who their opponents will be.
The qualifying deadline for everyone but legislators is March 1. The legislative qualifying deadline is June 1. Primaries are Aug. 2, and the general election is Nov. 8.
Anjuan Brown, former chairman of the Leflore County Democratic Executive Committee, will take on District 3 Supervisor Preston Ratliff in the Democratic primary.
Brown, 42, works in the Carroll County School District as assistant to the superintendent and also serves on the Greenwood School Board. He was chairman of the Leflore County Democratic party from 2008 until last month, when he stepped down to run for office.
Brown said he will work will the whole community and will focus on job creation. He said he looks at his children and grandchildren and sees nothing to keep them here after they go to college.
“I just feel like I know I can do a great job of enhancing the image of our community,” he said.
District 5 Supervisor Robert Collins, a 61-year-old Democrat, is seeking a second term. The owner of Collins Truck and Tractor said he believes the county is in its best shape in 20 years as far as finances and maintenance.
“I just want to finish what I started. We’ve had a good three years,” Collins said.
Keith Chapman has qualified to run for supervisor in District 2 as a Democrat. Chapman did not respond to calls seeking comment last week.
Robert Moore has represented District 2 for nearly two decades.
In District 4, only incumbent Wayne Self has qualified, although rumors are going around about potential challengers.
Self has qualified as a Democrat. He was elected as an independent in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
Republican Phil Wolfe, the District 1 Supervisor since 1992, has qualified to run again. The alarm company owner and former police officer said the county has a good board that works together and that this is a critical time considering the economic situation.
“And I enjoy it,” Wolfe said of his role as supervisor.
Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham, an independent, is seeking his fifth term.
“I feel like we can continue to move Leflore County in the right direction. ... Hopefully the economy will turn around, and we can get some jobs in here,” Abraham said.
Familiar faces have emerged to run for superintendent of education.
Viola Williams and Bessie L. Smith — who both ran in 2007 — have qualified again. Democrat Jean Hall, who won the 2007 race, has not qualified.
Smith, a 49-year-old Democrat from Sidon, has taught for 20 years and has spent the last six years as an inclusion teacher in the Greenville public schools.
“I believe that we need to change how we’re teaching our children,” Smith said. “There are too many of them that are graduating without the life skills they need to succeed in life.”
Williams, a longtime educator from Itta Bena, ran for superintendent as a Democrat in 2003 and 2007. She’s running as an independent this time around, and she said she anticipates winning.
“We are expecting some great things,” Williams said.
Sheriff Ricky Banks, who was first elected in 1979, is running as an independent against Democrat Demetrice Bedell. Both announced their intent to run months ago and have qualified.
Two constable races are contested. Southern District Constable Andrew McQueen is being challenged by Chris Glass, and Northern District Constable Steve Pernell is facing fellow Republican Brad E. Willoughby.
Glass, 32, is running for office for the first time as an independent. He has worked for the Greenwood Fire Department for 9.5 years and is a lieutenant. He also has been a reserve sergeant with the Greenwood Police Department for more than two years.
“I really enjoy law enforcement, and I really enjoy helping people,” Glass said of his reason for running.
McQueen, a 61-year-old Democrat, has been the Southern District constable for 11 years. He is the executive director of the Leflore County Civic Center.
Pernell has been the Northern District constable for seven years.
Two longtime courthouse officials — Tax Collector Sara Kenwright, an independent, and Tax Assessor Leroy Ware, a Democrat — are seeking another term and do not have opponents yet.
Other incumbents who have qualified to run again and don’t yet have opposition are County Prosecuting Attorney Richard Oakes (I), Central District Constable Vonzell Self (D), Coroner Debra Sanders (D), Northern District Justice Court Judge Jim Campbell (R) and Southern District Justice Court Judge Carlos Palmer (D).
• Contact Charlie Smith at csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
