Clark: Voter participation important in primary runoffs

Published 3:49 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Voters were tidying up party primaries across the state Tuesday, casting ballots in a handful of runoff races left undecided following the Aug. 7 election.

Voter turnout was not clear early in the day, but if history is a guide the number will be low.

“It’s really important for folks to go be part of the process,” Secretary of State Eric Clark said Monday. “It’s easy to forget the runoff because there’s just a lot less attention focused on it.”

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In several races that had multiple candidates in the Aug. 7 Democratic and Republican primaries, the top two advanced to Tuesday’s runoffs.

Polls are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The only statewide runoff is in the Democratic primary for state auditor. There’s also a regional Democratic runoff for public service commissioner in the central district.

Dozens of counties have Democratic or Republican runoffs for a plethora of offices, from state House and Senate to county supervisor or chancery clerk.

The party nominees from the primaries advance to the Nov. 6 general election.

In the state’s largest county, Hinds, voter turnout could be driven by the hotly contested runoff for district attorney as incumbent Faye Peterson faces challenger Robert Shuler Smith.

The U.S. Justice Department told Clark’s office that it will monitor the runoffs Tuesday in Bolivar and Wilkinson counties. The department watches Mississippi elections to ensure fairness to minorities.

There is one restriction on voting Tuesday. People who cast ballots in one party’s primary on Aug. 7 are not allowed to cross over and vote in the other party’s runoff. However, people who did not vote three weeks ago can vote in either party’s runoff.

“In November, I would remind people that everybody is on the same ballot and you can mix and match then,” Clark said.

On the ballot Tuesday:

— State auditor: Democratic runoff between Todd Brand and Mike Sumrall. The winner will face Republican Stacey Pickering in November.

— Public service commissioner, central district: Democratic runoff between Addie Green and Lynn Posey. The winner will face Republican Charles Barbour, Reform Party candidate Lee Dilworth and independent Kevin Moses in November. Incumbent Nielson Cochran, a Republican, did not seek re-election.

— Senate District 2, in all of Benton and Marshall counties and part of Tippah County: Democratic runoff between Henry Boyd Jr. and Bill Stone. The winner will face Republican incumbent Ralph Doxey in November.

— Senate District 4, in all of Alcorn County and parts of Tippah and Tishomingo counties: Democratic runoff between Kenny Digby and Eric Powell, Republican runoff between Judy Glenn and James Moffitt. Republican incumbent Travis Little did not seek re-election.

— Senate District 10, in all of Panola County and part of Tate County: Democratic runoff between incumbent Nolan Mettetal and Mona Pittman. The winner will face Republican Shelly Turner in November.

— Senate District 20, in parts of Madison and Rankin counties: Republican runoff between Charles Porter and Lee Yancey. The winner will be unopposed in November. Incumbent Charlie Ross, R-Brandon, did not seek re-election; he was defeated in the Aug. 7 GOP primary for lieutenant governor.

— Senate District 36, in all of Claiborne and Jefferson counties and parts of Copiah and Hinds counties: Democratic runoff between Albert Butler and Vincent Davis. The winner will be unopposed in November. Incumbent Lynn Posey, D-Union Church, did not seek re-election; he is running for public service commissioner.

— House District 19, in parts of Itawamba, Lee and Tishomingo counties: Democratic runoff between Brandon Cherry and Mark Duvall. The winner will face Republican Randy Boyd in November. Incumbent Jamie Franks, D-Mooreville, did not seek re-election; he’s running for lieutenant governor.

— House District 20, in parts of Lowndes and Monroe counties: Democratic runoff between Robert Mitchell and Jimmy Puckett. The winner will face Republican Chris Brown in November. Democratic incumbent J.B. Markham did not seek re-election.

— House District 21, in parts of Itawamba and Monroe counties: Democratic runoff between Donnie Bell and Michael Sullivan. The winner will face Republican Paul Walker of Fulton in November. Incumbent Bill Miles, D-Fulton, did not seek re-election.

— House District 77, in parts of Rankin, Simpson and Smith counties: Republican runoff between Andy Gipson and incumbent Clint Rotenberry. The winner will face Democrat Dale Berry and Green Party candidate Lynn McLean in November.

— House District 84, in parts of Clarke, Jasper, Lauderdale and Newton counties: Republican runoff between David Campbell and C.D. Smith. The winner will face Democrat William “Billy” G. Lee and independent Cecil “Matt” Hemphill in November. Republican incumbent Eric Robinson did not run this year.

— House District 91, in parts of Copiah, Covington, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence and Simpson counties: Democratic runoff between Bob Evans and incumbent Joey Hudson. The winner will be unopposed in November.

— House District 99, in parts of Lamar, Marion, Pike and Walthall counties: Democratic runoff between Winston Fortenberry and Ryan Bruhl. The winner will face Republican Bill Pigott in November.

— House District 104, in parts of Forrest and Lamar counties. Republican runoff between Larry Byrd and Chad King. The winner will be unopposed in November. Republican incumbent Mike Lott did not seek re-election.