Larry “Blue” Neal and Elmus Stockstill appeared before the Greenwood Voters League Wednesday night with the goal of energizing the faithful as they look to Tuesday’s Democratic runoff for circuit clerk.
Stockstill received 36 percent of the vote in the Aug. 2 primary, and Neal received 32 percent. They finished ahead of Jackie Harris-Littleton and Curtis Coates.
Incumbent Trey Evans is not running for re-election.
Neal, a Greenwood property owner and developer, said the narrowness of the election showed him winning is possible.
“It let me know that many people believed in me. That many people voted for me. And for that I’m thankful,” he said.
Neal recounted his record of service to the people of Leflore County. He served for 16 years as Leflore County Justice Court judge for the Southern District and 10 years as a municipal judge in Itta Bena.
“I have more law experience and judicial training than all the other candidates combined,” he said.
He added that he also has “more compassion for my fellow man.” For 25 years he has provided Christmas dinners for the elderly, disabled and homeless, he said.
“Very few elected officials can say that. Very few men in general in this county can say that,” Neal said.
He said he personally maintained the Good Shepherd and Magnolia cemeteries for a decade after they were abandoned.
“I have no loved ones buried out there. I did it out of love for my community,” Neal said.
He vowed to make the circuit clerk’s office a more welcoming place.
“Everyone who comes through those doors will be treated with respect if I’m elected,” Neal said.
Other changes he would implement would be twice-yearly voter education seminars to help the public become familiar with the electronic touch-screen voting machines.
He would also like to work with the Election Commission to purge the voter rolls.
“We got too many that are dead voting,” he said.
Stockstill is office manager and field representative to U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and also serves as alderman at-large and vice mayor of Itta Bena.
He said his relationships with his wife, Machelle, and his two children, Elmus, 9, and Karrington, 11, have enriched his life.
“A lot of times young males are stigmatized because of their lack of family involvement. I’m very involved with my daughter and very involved with my son,” he said.
His father was not there for him when he was growing up, but strict discipline by his mother and stepfather kept him on the right path, he said.
The Greenwood native said he is running for circuit clerk to give back.
“It’s all about community. How can we better our community in Leflore County?” he said.
Stockstill said the race is among equals.
“No one in this circuit clerk’s race has ever been a circuit clerk. Experience is one thing, but experience as a circuit clerk is another,” he said.
He said, if elected, he will cross-train the circuit clerk’s office staff so that they are able to perform their duties without interruption.
Stockstill also vowed to make the voter registration process more available, even going to high schools to register students who are eligible to vote.
Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m.
The winner of the runoff will face independents Mary Rice-Roberson, Dennis Barlow Jr., and William H. Lott in the Nov. 8 general election.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
