Qualifying will end on Friday for the next Beat 1 and Beat 2 school board members, the special election for Northern District Justice Court Judge in Carroll County and the special election for the election commissioner in Montgomery County.
In Carroll County, Beat 1 incumbent Kenneth DeLoach has qualified to run again for the seat. DeLoach, who’s in his 80s, is the longest serving member of the board. DeLoach has served since the 1990s. Beat 1 resident Claude R. Elam is running against DeLoach for the Beat 1 seat. In the Beat 2 race, Teresa Wilson-Vanlandingham is running for the Beat 2 seat. The seat is currently held by Donnie Wiltshire, who announced in August that he was not seeking re-election.
In the Justice Court Judge race, Greg Avant and Ronnie Hicks have qualified to run. Avant is the son of former justice court judge Jimmy Avant and is currently serving as the Northern District Justice Court Judge. Avant was appointed by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors after his father, Jimmy Avant, announced his retirement.
In Montgomery County, James “Butch” McGlothin has qualified to run for Beat 2 election commissioner after former commissioner Katie Burns announced her retirement. There are currently no qualifiers for the Beat 2 School Board seat, currently held by incumbent Brandye Brannon.
Also, six will be on the same ballot in November vying for Circuit Court Judge in a special election that was re-opened after the death of Judge George Mitchell. Devo Lancaster of Grenada, Doug Evans of Grenada, Doug Crosby of Koscuisko, Zachary Madison of Louisville, Kasey Burney-Young of Ackerman and Bradley Clanton are all running for the position.
Devo Lancaster currently serves as the municipal court judge for the City of Winona and the board attorney for the Montgomery County Supervisors, Doug Evans serves as the district attorney for the Fifth District, Doug Crosby serves as the 16th Section Manager for the Kosciusko School District and prosecuting attorney for Attala County. Madison serves as the board attorney for the Town of Noxapater and the prosecuting attorney for Winston County. Young serves as the board attorney for the Choctaw County Board of Supervisors, special master of youth court, does tribal law for the Mississippi Tribe of Choctaw Indians, and is board attorney for the Town of Weir.
All will be on the ballot in Carroll and Montgomery Counties on Nov. 8.
