Current officeholders — including those not running for re-election to their current positions — had a hard time in Tuesday’s primary runoffs in Walthall County, where voters are opting for change in a number of county positions.
Incumbent District 5 Supervisor Lloyd Bullock lost his re-election bid to Billy Bridges, who had 290 votes to Bullock’s 231 in Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff. Bridges faces no other opposition in November’s general election.
Bullock was elected in a 2020 special election to replace Clennel Brown on the board of supervisors.
And in the Post 1 constable’s race, Fred Magee Jr., a current Tylertown alderman and former county supervisor, lost to Rodney Magee, 516-430 in the Democratic primary runoff.
The newcomers’ wins follow a pattern in Walthall County, where other current officeholders have not fared well. Also departing at the end of the term are Circuit Clerk Vernon Alford, District 1 Supervisor Larry Montgomery, District 2 Supervisor Ken Craft and Post 2 Constable Roy Jene Huhn, who all lost re-election bids in the Aug. 8 primaries.
Bridges will be one of four new supervisors taking office in Walthall County in January. Democrat Oliver Bates faces Roger Ginn in the District 1 race in November. Sherman Smith defeated Craft in the Democratic primary. District 4 Supervisor Bruce Boyd is not seeking another term, and Democrat Jack Hartley and Republican Byran “Bird” Martin are competing for the seat in the general election.
Only District 3 Supervisor Douglas Popwell, who was unopposed, is returning to the board.
Other contested races in November include Chancery Clerk Shannon Fortenberry’s challenge with Republican Jasper Howard, Northern District Justice Court Judge Carl Montgomery Jr.’s face off with independent candidate Prencess Booth Dawson, and a race for county attorney between Republican Jenna D. Holmes and independent candidate Kurt Mord to replace incumbent Mark Holmes, who is stepping down. Fortenberry and Montgomery are running as Democrats.
Sheriff Kyle Breland, Coroner Chris Blackwell and Southern District Justice Court Judge Ryan Bruhl, all incumbents, are unopposed, as is Carla Johnson, who will replace retiring Tax Assessor Peggy Hilburn.
