Busby Takes Court Clerk Win; Baker Retains Tax Collector/Assessor Seat

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Two Lafayette County elected offices were decided in Tuesday’s Mississippi primary election with both races only having candidates in one party.

Current Lafayette County Board of Supervisor president Jeff Busby will hang up his supervisor hat and don a new, but familiar one in 2020 as Lafayette County Circuit Court Clerk.

Jeff Busby, Circuit Court Clerk elect

Busby won the election with 3,495 votes against his opponent, Karen Borden who garnered 876 votes. Both candidates were running on the Democratic ballot.

“I’m very humbled for people to have this much confidence in me,” Busby said Tuesday night. “Jeff Busby didn’t do this by himself. Many, many people helped along the way. The community supported me as District 2 supervisor and put their confidence in me again as their next circuit clerk.”

Busby said his interest and passion to pursue the position of Circuit Clerk is because of his mother, Mary Alice Busby, who served as Lafayette County’s representative for 24 years from 1988-2012.

Busby called his mother after the votes were announced at the Lafayette County Courthouse.

“She was very excited,” Busby said. “It’s a little emotional for her. It’s a little emotional for both of us.”

Busby has served as District 2 supervisor for two terms and as president of the board for the majority of his time as a supervisor.

The Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for running all elections, voter registration, marriage licenses and is responsible for the general court docket and recording all court documents and minutes. The position is currently held by Baretta Mosley who announced in late 2018 she would not be seeking re-election.

Baker to Stay

Sylvia Baker, tax collector/assessor.

Sylvia Baker has been the Lafayette County Tax Collector/Assessor since 2012 and after last night’s primary election she will continue to serve for another four years.

Baker won with 3,810 votes against her only opponent, Janice Downs Stanford, who received 569 votes. Both candidates ran on the Republican ballot.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for me and I’m humbled that they voted for me again,” Baker said at the Lafayette County Courthouse. “Everyone worked very hard and I’m very thankful for everyone who supported me.”

As Collector, Baker is responsible for the collection and settlement of all ad valorem taxes on public utilities, real property and personal property. As the Assessor, she is tasked with determining the existence of all taxable property, determine its value for assessment purposes and prepare a roll annually listing all properties in the county.

Baker first ran and won in 2011 and then again in 2015. Prior to becoming Tax Collector/Assessor, she worked as Chief Deputy Assessor since 1997.