Calhoun County voters will have their opportunity next Tuesday, Aug. 6 to vote in the Democratic or Republican Primary, narrowing the field to finalists for the November General Election in most races, and deciding the eventual winner in others.
Voters must choose when they go to the polling places whether they want to vote on the Democratic or Republican ballot. The Democratic ballot has five contested races – governor, secretary of state, district eight senator, coroner, and supervisor in district three. The Republican ballot has eight contested races – governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, transportation commissioner for the northern district, district eight senator, and sheriff.
There are only three contested races exclusive to Calhoun County. Ray Laney, of Vardaman, is challenging incumbent Sheriff Greg Pollan, of Calhoun City, on the Republican ballot. The winner will advance to face Roger Westmoreland in November.
Incumbent Coroner Jerry Fleming is being challenged by Salena Westmoreland on the Democratic ballot. Both are from Calhoun City. There is no challenger awaiting in December so the primary winner will be the next coroner.
Exclusive to district three in Calhoun County is the race for supervisor between incumbent Gwin Longest and challenger Justin Ferguson. Their race will be on the Democratic ballot. The winner will advance to the general election to take on Republican Gerald Thompson.
Among the more hotly contested races is the district eight senate seat with three candidates in each of the party primaries. The Democratic side features Kegan Coleman of Calhoun City, Mark Hancock of Houston and Kathryn York of Water Valley. The Republican ballot has Stephen Scott Griffin of Houston, Ben Suber of Bruce, and Steve Whitten of Calhoun City vying to advance. The winner of each primary would move on to the November General Election. If a runoff is needed to settle the primary, it would be held Tuesday, Aug. 27.
There are two contested local races that won’t be on the ballot until November. Chancery Clerk Romona Tillman, a Democrat, will be challenged by Republican Nicole Bennett McGreger. Supervisor Barney Wade, a Democrat, will be challenged by Independent candidate David Martin.
Absentee voting ends this Saturday at noon. The Circuit Clerk’s Office in the Courthouse in Pittsboro is open Monday- Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be open Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. until noon for absentee voting. For more information on the Aug. 6 Primary or other voting questions, please call the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 412-3101.
The Journal will post election results as they come in next Tuesday night on to our website – calhouncountyjournal.com – and on our Twitter account – @CalhCoJournal.
DEMOCRATIC BALLOT
Governor
Michael Brown
William Bond Compton Jr.
Jim Hood
Robert J. Ray
Robert Shuler Smith
Gregory Wash
Velesha P. Williams
Albert Wilson
Lieutenant Governor
Jay Hughes
Secretary of State
Johnny Dupree
Maryra Hodges Hunt
Attorney General
Jennifer Riley Collins
State Treasurer
Addie Lee Green
Comm. of Agriculture and Commerce
Rickey L. Cole
Comm. of Insurance
Robert E. Amos
Public Service Commissioner Northern District
Brandon Presley
Transportation Commissioner Northern District
Joe T. “Joey” Grist
State Senate 08
Kegan Coleman
Mark Hancock
Kathryn York
Chancery Clerk
Romona Tillman
Coroner
Jerry Fleming
Salena Westmoreland
Sheriff
Roger Westmoreland
Tax Assessor/Collector
Bill Malone
Supervisor 1
Charles L. Bobo
Supervisor 2
Tony “Homer” Moore
Supervisor 3
Justin Ferguson
Gwin Longest
Supervisor 4
Barney J. Wade
Supervisor 5
Tony Morgan
Justice Court Judge Post 1
Mark Ferguson
Constable Post 1
Jay Vanlandingham
Constable Post 2
Benny Langford
REPUBLICAN BALLOT
Governor
Robert Foster
Tate Reeves
Bill Waller Jr.
Lieutenant Governor
Delbert Hosemann
Shane Quick
Secretary of State
Sam Britton
Michael Watson
Attorney General
Mark Baker
Lynn Fitch
Andy Taggart
State Auditor
Shad White
State Treasurer
Eugene S. “Buck” Clarke
David McRae
Comm. of Agriculture and Commerce
Andy Gipson
Comm. of Insurance
Mike Chaney
Transportation Commissioner
Northern District
Trey Bowman
John Caldwell
E.A. Hathcock
Jeremy A. Martin
Geoffrey O. Yoste
District Attorney
Ben Creekmore
Senate 08
Stephen Scott Griffin
Benjamin A. Suber
Steve Whitten
State House of Rep. 23
Charles Jim Beckett
Chancery Clerk
Nicole Bennett McGreger
Circuit Clerk
Carlton Baker
County Attorney
Tina Dugard Scott
Sheriff
Ray Laney
Greg Pollan
Supervisor 3
Gerald Thompson
Justice Court Judge Post 2
Jimmy Vance
The Circuit Clerk’s Office in the Courthouse in Pittsboro is open Monday- Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be open Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. until noon for absentee voting. For more information on the Aug. 6 Primary or other voting questions, please call the Circuit Clerk’s Office at 412-3101.