(Left to right) Bill Waller Jr., Tate Reeves, Andy Taggart and Lynn Fitch Photos by Ashton Pittman
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
On Aug. 27, these candidates will compete in the 2019 party primary runoffs. Learn about each candidate for statewide office and in Jackson metro-area legislative races.
Governor
Republican Primary Runoff
Tate Reeves
"Keep Mississippi Strong." (campaign slogan)
Age: 45
Hometown: Florence, Miss.
Occupation: Current Mississippi Lieutenant Governor
@tatereeves
Bill Waller Jr.
"Make Mississippi Roads Great Again." (campaign slogan)
Age: 67
Hometown: Jackson
Occupation: Former Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice
@BillWallerMS
Attorney General
Republican Primary Runoff
Lynn Fitch
"A solution-driven conservative with a unique skill set in law, finance, administration, and policy" (campaign website)
Age: 57
Hometown: Ridgeland, Miss.
Occupation: Current Mississippi Treasurer
@LynnFitchforMS
Andy Taggart
"We must have better ... in the fight against the scourge of drugs." (Twitter)
Age: 62
Hometown: Madison
Occupation: Lawyer
@Andy4AG
@Andy_Taggart
Public Service Commissioner
Central District Democratic Primary Runoff
De'Keither Stamps (D)
"Affordable rates, reliable services, accessible utilities."
Age: 42
Occupation: Jackson councilman; President of National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials
@DeKeitherStamps
@DeKeitherStamps
Dorothy Benford (D)
"To reassure the citizens that ... officials are competent and capable ..."
Age: 76
Occupation: Frequent candidate for various offices
Jackson Metro-Area Legislative Races
Mississippi Senate District 22
Democratic Primary Runoff
Ruffin Smith
"Building roads and bridges for our future." (campaign slogan)
Age: 38
Hometown: Louise, Miss.
Occupation: Mayor of Louise; businessman; farmer
@RuffinSmithForSenate
Joseph C. Thomas
"Experienced champion for schools." (campaign slogan)
Age: 70
Hometown: Yazoo City, Miss.
Occupation: Former Mississippi Senator for District 21; former Vice President at Regions Bank
Mississippi House District 63
Democratic Primary Runoff
Deborah Dixon (Incumbent)
"Great education for all students; Higher pay for all state employees; Roads and bridges." (Facebook)
Age: 58
Hometown: Jackson
Occupation: Incumbent House Representative
Stephanie McKenzie Foster
"Stronger Families; Stronger Communities; Stronger Schools; Stronger Law Enforcement." (Facebook)
Age: 52
Hometown: Jackson
Occupation: Deputy clerk at Hinds County Chancery Office
@stephaniemckenziefoster
Mississippi House District 70
Democratic Primary Runoff
William "Bo" Brown
"Promote economic development, improve infrastructure and support advanced education initiatives." (campaign website)
Age: 73
Hometown: Jackson
Occupation: Insurance specialist; former Jackson Councilman
@ElectBoBrown
Kathy Sykes (Incumbent) (D)
"Finding common ground for the common good." (campaign website)
Age: 56
Hometown: Jackson
Occupation: Incumbent District 70 House Representative; consultant
@electkathysykes/
@electkathysykes
Hinds County Races
Sheriff
Victor Mason (Incumbent) (D)
"I will administer the Hinds County jails professionally so they are once again safe and secure." (Facebook)
Age: 63
Occupation: Hinds County Sheriff, former law enforcement: JPD, Sheriff's Office, FBI, State of Mississippi
jfp.ms/VictorMason
Podcast: LetsTalkJackson.com
Lee Vance (D)
"Lee Vance knows the value of being connected. That's why he's running for this position. Help him help you." (campaign website)
Age: 61
Occupation: 30 years in Jackson Police Department, including police chief under Mayors Yarber, Lumumba
jfp.ms/LeeVance
Podcast: LetsTalkJackson.com
Hinds Supervisor District 2
David Archie (D)
"A Man That Will Take a Stand" (campaign flyer)
History: Archie has run for Hinds sheriff, Jackson mayor and faced Darrel McQuirter in a runoff for this seat four years ago.
@DavidLArchie
Darrel McQuirter (Incumbent) (D)
"Hinds County - A Very Special Place is our slogan and our goal is to strive for continued success." (supervisor's site)
Age: 57
Occupation: Hinds supervisor since 2014; McQuirter Realty and Construction
@DarrelMcQuirter
Supervisor's page: jfp.ms/DarrelMcQuirter
Hinds Supervisor District 3
Silas Bolden Jr. (D)
"I'm gonna push to build a new jail in Jackson." (WAPT)
Occupation: Reverend, White Rock M.B. Church
No public campaign pages
Credell Calhoun (D)
Age: 76
Occupation: Mississippi House, 68th District since 2003, and has proposed multiple bills requiring public schools to include recitation of "10 Commandments"; businessman including construction and development; running for long-time Supervisor Peggy Hobson Calhoun's seat, which his wife has held since 1992
No public campaign pages
Legislative page: jfp.ms/CredellCalhoun
Hinds Supervisor, District 5
Patty Patterson (D)
"It's your money." (campaign flyer)
Age: 56
Occupation: Businesswoman and owner, Repurposed Projects, in west Jackson
@patty.patterson.7587
Podcast: LetsTalkJackson.com
Bobby "Bobcat" McGowan (Incumbent) (D)
"My promise to you, the citizens of Hinds County District Five, is to remodel District Five." (Facebook)
Age: 56
Occupation: Hinds County Public Works Department road crew for 30 years, moving up to supervisor. Hinds supervisor since 2016. Owner, B&R Chartering Services
@supervisorbobcatmcgowan
Supervisor's page: jfp.ms/BobbyMcGowan
Justice Court Judge, District 2
Tabitha Britton-Porter (Incumbent) (D)
"Fair, Experienced, Compassionate" (campaign)
Occupation: Incumbent Justice Court Judge, District 2
Facebook: jfp.ms/TabithaBrittonPorter
Eddie Robinson (D)
"Integrity, Honesty, Commitment"
Age: 43
Occupation: 30 years law enforcement: Jackson Airport police officer, Hinds County deputy, Hinds County DA's chief investigator
@eddie.robinson.73550
Voting Information
The Aug. 27 statewide, local and district-level primary runoffs are open to anyone who registered to vote at least 30 days in advance, even if they did not vote in the Aug. 6 primaries. However, if people voted in one party's primary in the Aug. 6 election, they cannot switch parties and vote in the other runoff.
"If you voted in the Republican primary, you cannot vote in the Democratic (runoff) primary in three weeks and vice versa," Hinds County Republican Party Chairman Pete Perry told the Jackson Free Press on Aug. 7. "If you did not vote, you can vote in whatever primary."
After voters decide, party nominees will face off against one another in the Nov. 5 general election.
Voters must show an accepted form of photo ID at the voting booth, a list of which is available on the secretary of state's website. County circuit clerks across the state offer all residents free photo IDs that they can use to vote. For more information on voting and voter ID, go to sos.ms.gov/vote.
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