The Feb. 1 filing deadline for candidates seeking public office in this year’s elections passed just last week, and already two of the last people to sign up have been ruled ineligible to run, clearing the path to victory for two local incumbents.
Tallahatchie County Circuit Clerk Daphane Neal said Tuesday that when the county’s Democratic Executive Committee met Feb. 2 to review and officially qualify candidates, they ruled that Terry D. Crowder did not meet residency requirements.
On Feb. 1, Crowder, 51, of 6A First St., Charleston, filed a statement of intent as a Democrat seeking District 2 supervisor in Tallahatchie County.
A statewide digital voter database shows that Crowder voted in Yalobusha County as recently as Nov. 8, 2022, casting a ballot in the general election and special election for Yalobusha County sheriff. He had been a resident of 376 Holly St. in Oakland.
On Nov. 9, 2022, he filed an application to register as a voter in Tallahatchie County, listing a residence of 6A First St., Charleston.
State law requires that a candidate for supervisor be a registered voter of the county and a resident of the district in which he or she seeks election for at least two years prior to the general election.
On Jan. 30, Melody Smith, 37, of 5276 Cascilla Road, Cascilla, filed a qualifying statement of intent as an independent candidate for District 1 constable. However, Neal said Smith failed to submit a required petition with the signatures of at least 15 registered voters of the district. Neal said she has spoken with Smith and has contacted the secretary of state’s office for further clarification on Smith’s ineligibility.
Because Crowder and Smith were the only candidates challenging the incumbents in their particular races, their removal means that District 2 Supervisor Johnny Goodwin and District 1 Constable Jimmy N. Manues now are unchallenged in their reelection bids.
