By Alyssa Schnugg
News editor
Several people tossed their hats into Lafayette County politics during the last week of the qualification period for the 2023 election, including an Oxford alderman.
The qualification period began on Jan. 3 and ended at 5 p.m. today, Feb. 1.
At-Large Aldermen John Morgan has qualified to run for the Lafayette County District 2 Supervisor seat.
Incumbent District 2 Supervisor Larry Gillespie withdrew from the race this week.
A few races had only one candidate, the incumbent. Circuit Court Clerk Jeff Busby and County Attorney Jay Chain have no running against them.
Lafayette county Justice Court Clerk Mikey Avent will also serve another four years on the bench since no one qualified to run against him as well.
Constables Greg Pettis, northern district, and Jack Theobald, southern district, were also unopposed. Constable Kenneth Drewrey, central district has one opponent – Lee Durham.
Sheriff Joey East had one opponent qualify near the deadline today. Jeffrey C. South will go head-to-head with the Sheriff in November.
The race with the most candidates is for District 3 Supervisor with five candidates vying for the seat, including Incumbent David Rikard. The District 4 and 5 Supervisor races have four people running for supervisor.
Qualifying as of 5 p.m. today for county elections:
- Circuit Court Clerk: Incumbent Court Clerk Jeff Busy
- County Attorney: Incumbent Attorney Jay Chain
- Sheriff: Incumbent Sheriff Joey East and Jeffrey C. South
- Justice Court Judge-Northern District: LaSonja “Sue” Pettis, Brent Johnson, Hardie Meeks Jr. and Lyndsey Babb Woods (no incumbent)
- Justice Court Judge-Central District: Incumbent Judge Mickey Avent
- Justice Court Judge-Southern: Incumbent Judge Johnny Wayne McLarty, Kristi Allen and Benjamin Justus
- Board of Supervisors:
- District
1 – Incumbent Supervisor Brent Larson, Carole Arnold and Anthony Cox - District
2- Dru Jones, John Morgan and Avery Dunn - District
3 – Incumbent Supervisor David Rikard, Dale Timothy Gordon, Larandust
Coleman, Will Tidwell and Josh Thweatt - District
4 – Incumbent Supervisor Chad McLarty, Anne M. Klingen, Scott Allen and Derek Mooney - District
5 – Mike Fortner, Greg Bynum, Don Mason and Jason Kent (no incumbent)
- Constable-North: Incumbent Constable Greg Pettis
- Constable-Central: Incumbent Constable Kenneth Drewery and Lee Durham
- Constable-South: Incumbent Constable Jack Theobald
- Chancery Clerk: Mike Roberts, Lloyd Oliphant, Marsha Pierce Theobald and Kasey Haynie Daniels
- TaxAssessor/Collector: Rocky Kennedy and Shelia Busby Kelly (no incumbent)
- Election Commission: District 2 – Erin Smith; District 4 – Laura Antonow
- Coroner: Glenn Coleman, Marilyn P. Delbridge, LaVera “Deede” Hodges and Shawn Bennett
State Elections
- Governor: Incumbent Republican Tate Reeves and Republicans David Grady Hardigree and Dr. John Witcher and Democrats Brandon Presley, Bob Hickenbottom and Gregory Wash
- Lt. Governor: Incumbent Delbert Hosemann, Tiffany Longino, Chris McDaniel and Shane Quick, all Republicans and Ryan Grover, Democrat
- Senate 9: Incumbent Nicole Boyd and Ricky Caldwell, both Republicans
- House of Representatives District 12: Clay Deweese, incumbent, and Donna Niewiaroski
- House of Representatives District 10: Brady B. Williamson, incumbent, Josh Hawkins and Lofton Grey
- House of Representatives District 13: Steve Massengill, incumbent
*State candidate lists are still being updated. We will update this post once information is available.
The primary will be on Aug. 8 with the primary runoff on Aug. 29. The General Election will be on Nov. 7 with the general election runoff on Nov. 28.
