Tallahatchie County Sheriff Jimmy Fly has been elected to a full four-year term, according to results from Tuesday’s general election.
Democratic nominee Fly, 35, of near Charleston, handily defeated independent challenger Rodzinski Weekly, 44, by a vote count of 2,955 (60%) to 1,933 (40%).
Contacted late Tuesday night, Fly said, “I’d like to thank everybody that got out and voted, and my family and others who supported me. I’m happy and proud to be the sheriff and I’m looking forward to continue working for the people of Tallahatchie County.”
Fly was appointed sheriff by the Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors in August 2018 after longtime sheriff William Brewer resigned over federal charges of criminal wrongdoing.
In seeking election this year, Fly topped nine Democratic opponents to claim a first-ballot nomination Aug. 6.
Weekly, a deputy sheriff on staff in Fly’s office, initially qualified as a Democrat, then withdrew and qualified as an independent to ensure his spot on the Nov. 5 ballot.
In other election news:
» A veteran member of the Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors has won re-election.
Democratic nominee Johnny Goodwin, 61, racked up 74% of the vote to defeat independent candidate Leon Smith, 67, in a race for District 2 supervisor.
Goodwin compiled 696 votes to Smith’s 246 (26%) Tuesday, earning a sixth term on the county’s chief governing body, for which he serves as the president.
» A former longtime constable completed his comeback from a one-term retirement, winning election to his sixth four-year term.
In the race for District 1 constable, Democrat Jimmy N. Manues, 70, ran away with 81% of the general election vote, overwhelming independent candidate Melody Smith, 34, by a vote of 2,240 to 529 (19%).
Manues had served five terms in the position before opting four years ago to toss his hat into the ring for District 1 justice court judge. He lost that bid and sat out the past four years.
» In state Senate District 13, Democrat Sarita M. Simmons captured 71% of the vote in Tallahatchie County and also won election districtwide. She defeated Republican B.C. Hammond 8,969 (65%) to 4,833 (35%) to secure her first term in the Legislature.
» In state House of Representatives District 10, independent Josh Hawkins captured 40% of the vote in Tallahatchie County. Districtwide, Republican Brady Williamson led the field with 4,622 votes (47%) and looks to face a Nov. 26 runoff against Hawkins, who garnered 2,644 votes (27%). Democrat Bobby E. Dailey was third with 2,543 votes (26%).
» In the race for governor, Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood carried Tallahatchie County with 61%, but statewide he was defeated by Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who garnered 52% to Hood’s 46%. Two other minor-party candidates split the remaining 2% of the statewide vote.
» In vying for lieutenant governor, state Rep. Jay Hughes of Oxford, a Democrat, won Tallahatchie with 56% of the vote. Statewide, current Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican, racked up 60% to Hughes’ 40 to earn the right to replace Reeves in January.
» Democratic secretary of state nominee Johnny DuPree tallied 57% of the Tallahatchie County vote but found himself on the short end of the statewide count, where Republican Michael Watson captured 59% to win.
» In a race to determine who will succeed Hood as attorney general, Democrat Jennifer R. Collins picked up 57% of the local vote but fell in defeat statewide to Republican Lynn Fitch, who garnered 58%.
» In a showdown for state treasurer, Democrat Addie Lee Green took 54% of the vote in Tallahatchie County but fell short on the statewide level to David McRae, who captured 61% to win election.
» Democrat Rickey L. Cole got 55% of the local vote in his bid for commissioner of agriculture and commerce, but Republican Andy Gipson took 59% of the statewide vote to win re-election to the post.
» In the race for Northern District transportation commissioner, Democrat Joe T. “Joey” Grist carried Tallahatchie with 51% of the vote but lost districtwide to Republican John Caldwell, who won the seat with 64%.
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A total of 701 absentee ballots were cast in Tallahatchie County in advance of Tuesday’s general election.
Tallahatchie County election officials on Wednesday were to consider 18 affidavit ballots cast the day before.
Eleven affidavit ballots were cast by voters who did not produce a photo ID at the poll. Those voters must present their ID within five business days after the election to have their ballot counted.
Of 10,034 registered voters in Tallahatchie County, 4,948 (49.31%) voted at the polls on Tuesday or by absentee ballot filed prior to the election. That means that 50.69% of local registered voters did not vote.
