Childress withdraws as collector candidate
Flora Mayor Les Childress has withdrawn from the Madison County Tax Collector’s race, leaving a field of three now to compete in the upcoming Republican primary to succeed Kay Pace following her decision to retire after this term.
“I just decided, for personal reasons, that wasn’t something I wanted to do,” Childress said, jokingly adding there wasn’t a “bombshell” to report. “I like what I do (as mayor) and I plan on staying in Flora.”
The three remaining candidates are former County Administrator Shelton Vance, current Tax Assessor employee C.J. Garavelli, and current Deputy Tax Collector Laura Sullivan.
Democrat Eugene Luckett has withdrawn from the District 2 Constable race leaving incumbent Democrat Johnny Sims unopposed for the primary. He will face Republican Tchiakousky Williams in November.
A handful of incumbent countywide office holders are running unopposed and are headed for another four-year term.
Sheriff Randy Tucker, Chancery Clerk Ronny Lott, County Attorney Pamela Hancock, Tax Assessor Norman Cannady Jr. and Coroner Alex Breeland are all unopposed this cycle.
There are three contested county supervisor races, though only one will be decided in the primaries.
Casey Brannon, Timothy Jenkins and Arlette Hulsey Thompson are all running as Republicans to fill the District 1 seat currently held by Sheila Jones. Jones is not seeking re-election to a third term.
Former District 4 Supervisor David Bishop, a Republican, will take on incumbent Karl Banks, a Democrat, in November. And incumbent District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin, a Democrat, will take on Charles Chip Matthews, a Republican, in November.
District 2 Supervisor Trey Baxter and District 3 Supervisor Gerald Steen are both running unopposed.
According to the Circuit Clerk’s office, the final list of candidates who submitted qualifying paperwork is as as follows:
• District 1 Supervisor Casey Brannon, Republican
• District 1 Supervisor Timothy Jenkins, Republican
• District 1 Supervisor Arlette Hulsey Thompson, Republican
• District 2 Supervisor Trey Baxter, Republican
• District 3 Supervisor Gerald Steen, Republican
• District 4 Supervisor Karl Banks, Democrat
• District 4 Supervisor David Bishop, Republican
• District 5 Supervisor Paul E. Griffin, Democrat
• District 5 Supervisor Charles Chip Matthews, Republican
• Sheriff Randy Tucker, Republican,
• Chancery Clerk Ronny Lott, Republican
• Circuit Clerk Anita Wray, Republican
• Circuit Clerk Fannie Hargon Sanders, Democrat
• County Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Hancock, Republican
• Tax Assessor Norman Cannady Jr., Republican
• Tax Collector C.J. Garavelli, Republican
• Tax Collector Laura Sullivan, Republican
• Tax Collector Shelton Vance, Republican
• Justice Court Judge District 1 Marsha Weems Stacey, Republican
• Justice Court Judge District 2 Martina B. Griffin, Democrat
• Justice Court Judge District 2 Walter (WL) Johnson Jr., Democrat
• Justice Court Judge District 3 Lloyd C. Spivey III, Republican
• Justice Court Judge District 4 Bruce McKinley, Republican
• Constable District 1 Michael L. (Mike) Brown, Republican
• Constable District 2 Johnny Sims, Democrat
• Constable District 2 Tchiakousky Williams, Republican
• Constable District 3 K. Michael Bailey, Republican
• Constable District 3 Richard “Taco” Johnson, Republican
• Constable District 4 Brad D. Harbour, Republican
Constable District 4 Jonathan J. Tillman Sr., Republican
• Coroner Alex Breeland, Republican
• District 2 Election Commissioner Barbara Gross, Republican
• District 2 Election Commissioner Randall Bolden, Independent
• District 4 Election Commissioner Dan Dickinson, Republican
• District 4 Election Commissioner Anthony Denton, Democrat
• Surveyor Roy Lamar Bullock, Republican
• District Attorney Bubba Bramlett
The primary elections will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 8, with any runoffs set for Tuesday, Aug. 29. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7.