Sun Herald

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Harrison County sheriff race highlights August 25th runoff

Incumbent Sheriff Melvin Brisolara was pushed to a runoff with Troy Peterson in the August 4th Republican Primary. The two debated on Thursday, August 13th and largely agreed on priorities but dissented about whether their implementation has been adequate and also differed on the future management of the department. The winner of the August 25th runoff will become the Harrison County sheriff as there is no Democrat opponent for the November 3rd general election.

Also in the Harrison County Republican runoff, Ricky Dombrowski and Angel Kibler-Middleton will square off for District 2 County Supervisor, Tonya Wayne Ladner and Darrin Ladner  for District 5 County Supervisor, and James Morgan and Richard H. Quave for District 1 Constable.

The Democrat Primary will only see one runoff in Harrison County; Chris Fisher and Kent Jones will vie for the party’s nod for District 4 County Supervisor.

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Democrat shocker highlights 2015 Primary Election

Incumbents mostly won the day in Mississippi Gulf Coast primary elections on August 4th. The biggest surprise of the election came in the Democrat primary for Governor. Political unknown Robert Gray won the primary against the Democrat’s chose standard-bearer Vicki Slater. Slater, an accomplished trial lawyer and small business owner, had been the MS Democrat Party favorite and received the most endorsements of any of the primary candidates. Gray, a retired firefighter and truck driver, will face Gov. Phil Bryant and Reform Party candidate Shawn O’Hara in the November 3rd General Election.

County primaries were mixed with several races heading to runoff elections on August 25th:

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RUNOFFS:

  • Hancock County Supervisor, District 5: Tonya Wayne Ladner and Darrin Ladner
  • Harrison County Sheriff: Melvin Brisolara and Troy Peterson
  • Harrison County Supervisor, District 2: Ricky Dombrowski and Angel Kibler-Middleton
  • Harrison County Constable, District 1: James Morgan and Richard H. Quave
  • Jackson County Circuit Clerk: Randy Carney and J.T. Martin
  • Jackson County Tax Assessor: Nicholas Elmore and Greta Hearndon
  • Jackson County Supervisor, District 1: Barry E. Cumbest and Sabrina Smith
  • Jackson County Supervisor, District 3: Michael R. Whitmore and Ken Taylor
  • Jackson County Supervisor, District 4: Tommy Brodnax and Troy Ross
  • Jackson County Justice Court Judge, District 1: Gerald Wayne Jones and Matt Lachaussee
  • Jackson County Justice Court Judge, District 4: David McVeay and Daniel P. Guice, III

DEMOCRAT PRIMARY RUNOFF: Harrison County Supervisor, District 4: Chris Fisher and Kent Jones

Complete results from the primary election are linked below.

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2015 Primaries on August 4th

Prepare now for the August 4th Primary Elections! If registered, you can vote in either the Republican or Democrat primary but not both.

Find your polling place AND sample ballot at the Secretary of State’s POLLING PLACE LOCATOR. The Polling Place Locator not only provides your voting precinct but also Democrat and Republican Primary ballots for your address.

Plan now as information on local candidates is often difficult to find than for national or even state-wide candidates.  Search candidate websites, the Sun Herald, the Clarion-Ledger, the Blessings of Liberty, and other local and state media sites and blogs for more information.

If you are not registered, don’t wait to register for the General Election on November 3rd. Residents must register at least 30 days prior to election day. Visit your county’s Circuit Clerk for more information.

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Gillich elected mayor of Biloxi after special election runoff

After the April 28th special election trimmed the crowded field to two, Fofo Gilich was convincingly elected with 60 percent of the vote over opponent Windy Swetman. Gilich was sworn into office on May 18th and will serve out the term of former and long time Biloxi mayor A.J. Holloway who resigned earlier this year.

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Special Election set to determine Biloxi mayor

The Biloxi City Council set the mayoral special election for April 28th. The position became vacant when former mayor A.J. Holloway resigned on March 5th after serving 22 years. Kenny Glavan is serving as the acting mayor until the special election.

Candidates must qualify for the special election by April 8th. The following have announced their intent to run:

  • Cono Caranna, former Harrison County district attorney
  • Andrew Gilich
  • Felix Gines, Biloxi Councilman
  • Dixie Newman, Biloxi Councilman
  • Windy Swetman, Harrison County Supervisor
  • Paul Tisdale, Biloxi Councilman

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Vehicle inspection stickers about to go away

The House voted 112-7 in favor of eliminating the vehicle inspection sticker. Those favoring some type of inspection say that, since there is no support for a more thorough and expensive inspection process, it makes sense to eliminate the sticker. Gov. Phil Bryant must sign the repeal to become law.

The Sun Herald asks, “Will Phil Bryant sign bill to eliminate inspection stickers?”

State Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula says, “Yes:”

The bill repeals the annual inspection (MS Code § 63-13-1 through 63-13-29) but leaves in place MS Code § 63-7-59 which prohibits mirror tinting and requires light transmittance of 28% or more on the windshield and front two side windows.

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Palazzo named to House Appropriations Committee

While the special election to fill the 1st Congressional District is still taking shape, U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo has been appointed to replace the late Alan Nunnelee on the House Appropriations Committee (HAC).

Former Sen. Trent Lott said that Mississippi has been represented on the Appropriations committee since the 1930s and that losing that position would have been a big loss to the Gulf Coast and the state. “I was just depressed that we’d lost that slot,” Lott said. “So with Palazzo going on, that’s really important — important for the district but also important for him. For those federal installations we have down there on the Coast this is really big.”

Since this powerful committee writes the bills that determine where and how tax dollars are spent, the state benefits from the representation. Senator Thad Cochran chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee where he has established a strong history of bringing federal dollars into the state. Since Mississippi is dependent upon federal aid and routinely topping the list of state budgets supported with federal dollars (42.9% of the 2013 budget was provided by the federal government), having representation on the Appropriations committees of both the House and Senate is vital.

Rep. Palazzo should benefit politically because this position greatly expands his influence beyond that of his roles on the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Space and Technology Committees, some of which he’ll have to relinquish. With Tea Party favorite and state Sen. Chris McDaniel expressing interest in the 4th Congressional District seat, Palazzo’s new-found status should provide give him an edge in future elections.

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2015 Candidates for Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will be challenged in the Republican primary by Alisha Nelson McElhenney while Jelani Barr and Tim Johnson will square off in a Democrat primary battle.

The winners of the respective primaries on August 4th will meet in the general election on November 3rd.

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Harrison County Supervisor selected for District 4

John Johnson has been selected to serve as the interim District 4 Supervisor for the remainder of former Supervisor William Martin’s term which ends this year. Johnson is a former Harrison County School Board member.

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2015 Candidates for County Elections

2015 is a big election year for Mississippi as is seen by the numerous positions on the November 4th ballot. Visit the Sun Herald’s County Elections Candidate List to see this year’s candidates in Jackson, Hancock, and Harrison Counties for the following positions:

  • Chancery Clerk
  • Circuit Clerk
  • County Prosecuting Attorney
  • Sheriff
  • Coroner
  • Tax Assessor
  • Tax Collector
  • School Superintendent
  • County Supervisors
  • Constables
  • Justice Court Judges

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