Meet the Candidates: Gillespie, McGlawn in Lafayette County Supervisor District 2 Race

The race for Lafayette County Supervisor District 2 started off as a busy one with eight candidates vying for the seat. The list was shortened after the primary election with Ava Halon Bonds Gossett and Joshua McGlawn getting the two top spots on the Democratic ticket while Larry Gillespie II took the Republican nomination over Chad Mills. In the primary runoff, McGlawn won and now faces Gillespie on Election Day.

Each candidate was asked two questions. Here are there answers:

Larry Gillespie

Name: Larry Gillespie II
Age: 45
Party: Republican
Education: Bachelor of Business from The University of Mississippi
Profession: Oxford career firefighter, Oxford Police Officer, construction management, Local business owner (Construction Waste Management, LLC.)

1. Why are you running?
I have been a public servant for sixteen years and I want to continue to serve this community in a proficient manner with honesty and integrity. I will work to keep the county growing in a sensible manner while using common sense to make decisions that affect the rural parts of the county.

2. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Lafayette County and what are your thoughts on how to help correct the problem?
Public Safety and Infrastructure will be high priorities when I am elected. We have many bridges throughout the county that are rated below the weight limit of a fire apparatus. This limits access to certain areas of the county for emergency services. We must continue to keep up with the growth of the county with our roads and bridges. We must also keep the pressure on our state representatives to maintain and improve our state road system throughout the county.

3. What is your No. 1 promise to the voters in your district should you win?
I will be available to all the citizens of Lafayette County and I will make common-sense conservative decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens of Lafayette County

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Josh McGlawn

Name: Josh McGlawn
Party: Democrat
Age: 31
Education:  Master’s (MBA)
Profession: Business Owner

1. Why are you running?
As a fifth-generation Lafayette Countian and raising children here, I have a vested interest in the progress of this great community. As Supervisor of District 2, I would have a more direct influence on that progress.

2. What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Lafayette County and what are your thoughts on how to help correct the problem?
As I have listened to the concerns of the people, the main idea of what I have gathered is the overall state of the working lower and lower-middle class. Problems such as under-employment, lack of affordable housing and rural infrastructure are all main concerns of the people.

3. What is your No. 1 promise to the voters in your district should you win?
If elected as Supervisor of District 2, I promise to the people to continue to listen to their concerns and act on them accordingly.

Hottytoddy.com staff report