The candidate field continues to grow as two more men qualified last week to run in the 2023 Countywide and Statewide elections.
Barry Joe Miller and R.B. Ashford have both entered the race. Miller qualified to run for the Constable, Post 2 position and Ashford qualified for the District 4 race. The Constable, Post 2 race is now a two man race with Miller and incumbent Roy Dunn Carter. With Ashford throwing his name in the ring, the District 4 Supervisor race becomes a three man race with Ashford and Dennis Weeks challenging incumbent John Shumaker.
District 2 Supervisor incumbent Greg Fondren has also qualified to run. And, Rodney Bowman has qualified for the District 5 Supervisor race.
Other who qualified during the first week are: Beat 1 Supervisor Joey Stephenson and District 3 Supervisor Chris McIntire
In the sheriff’s race, incumbent Brandon Busby and Ackerman Police Chief Tim Cook have qualified to run.
Chancery Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Tax Assessor, and Coroner incumbents Steve Montgomery, Amy Burdine, Lori Kerr, and Christopher Coleman have all qualified to run.
In the Justice Court Judge, Post 1 race, incumbent Andy Stephenson and Lacee Black Jones have each qualified to run.
In the Justice Court Judge, Post 2 race, Ben Turnipseed has qualified to run, and in the Constable race, Issac Newman has qualified for Constable, Post 1.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, to qualify for the state-level positions – governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer, ag commissioner, and insurance commissioner, a potential candidate needs $300, and for those running independent, they must also have 1,000 signatures.
To qualify for the position of Public Service Commissioner and Transportation Commissioner, it’s a $200 fee, and for those who are running independent, they also have to gather 300 signatures and to qualify for the District Attorney seat, it’s a $100 fee and also 100 signatures for independent candidates.
For county seats, it’s $100, and if they’re running independent, it’s 50 signatures for each position.
To run for election commissioner, they must have 50 signatures, and there is no fee.
The primary election will be held on August 8, and the general election will be held on November 7.
To find out who’s qualified and all news leading up to the election and after, pick up your Choctaw Plaindealer or visit us at www.redhillsnewsms.com
Qualifying will continue until Feb. 1.
