A pair of veteran Tallahatchie County officeholders were victorious in Tuesday’s Democratic runoff election.
Incumbent Tallahatchie County Coroner Ginger Smith Meriwether, 46, of Holcomb compiled 1,697 votes (52 percent) to top perennial challenger Anthony “Tony” Hawkins, 49, of Sharkey Road, who had 1,556 votes (48 percent). With no Nov. 5 general election foe, Meriwether seizes a fifth term.
District 3 Supervisor Larry Cole, 72, of Cascilla topped Philip Ross, 47, of Scobey to win a third term. Cole, who received 543 votes (61 percent) to Ross’ 354 (39 percent), faces no general election opposition.
Former five-term District 1 constable Jimmy N. Manues, 70, of Enid turned back Frank Chambers III, 56, of Charleston to clinch the Democratic nomination. Manues received 1,174 votes (55 percent) to Chambers’ 948 (45 percent). Independent Melody Smith, 34, of Cascilla waits in the wings for the general election.
Sarita M. Simmons topped fellow Democrat John Marshall Alexander in state Senate District 13. Districtwide, Simmons won with 4,831 votes (66 percent) to Alexander’s 2,491 (34 percent). In Tallahatchie, Simmons tallied 580 votes (66 percent) to Alexander’s 299 (34 percent).
On the Republican side, Tate Reeves won his party’s nomination for governor over Bill Waller Jr. and advances to face Democratic nominee Jim Hood in November. Statewide, Reeves received 176,019 votes (54 percent) to Waller’s 148,334 (46 percent). In Tallahatchie, Reeves snagged 51 percent of the vote.
In the race for attorney general, Republican Lynn Fitch turned back Andy Taggart. Fitch tallied 164,298 votes (52 percent) to Taggart’s 151,506 (48 percent). Fitch received 54 percent of the vote in Tallahatchie. She now advances to face Democrat Jennifer Riley Collins Nov. 5.
John Caldwell defeated Geoffrey O. Yoste for Northern District transportation commissioner, getting 49,184 votes (56 percent) to Yoste’s 37,905 (44 percent). Caldwell, who won with 68 percent in Tallahatchie County, faces Democrat Joe T. “Joey” Grist in the general election.
In a GOP runoff for state House of Representatives in District 10, Brady Williamson tallied 1,392 votes (58 percent) to top Kelly Morris, with 1,010 votes (42 percent). Morris carried Tallahatchie. Williamson will battle Democrat Bobby Dailey on Nov. 5.
Exactly 34 percent of Tallahatchie County’s 9,985 registered voters cast a runoff ballot, down from 52 percent on Aug. 6. Some 326 absentee ballots were counted Tuesday, down from 485 in the earlier primary.
