Voters to decide party primaries
on Tuesday

By Staff
from staff reports
August 3, 2003
The 2003 election season shifts into full gear Tuesday when voters across Mississippi go to the polls to choose Democratic and Republican party nominees for state, legislative and county offices.
On the ballot: candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, state representative, state senator and county supervisor. Polls will be open across Mississippi from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
In many instances, primary winners will advance to the Nov. 4 general election. Races will be decided in the primaries if all candidates are from one party and no independents or third-party candidates are running.
If needed, runoff elections are set for Aug. 26.
Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk Donna Jill Johnson, whose office is responsible for voter registration, said the county historically always has a "real good voter turnout especially compared to other counties."
The big-ticket race is for governor. Incumbent Gov. Ronnie Musgrove will face four little-known candidates in the Democratic primary, while Republican Haley Barbour will meet Mitch Tyner in the GOP primary.
The party nominees will meet three other third-party candidates in the November general election.
In Lauderdale County, voters will choose a new District 1 supervisor from among five candidates in the Republican primary: Sidney S. Covington, Eddie Dewayne Harper, Jerry Marlow, Billye Wayne "Bill" McBride and David Pritchett.
Voters also will decide the District 3 supervisor's race by choosing Bobby G. Buchanan or incumbent Craig Hitt in the GOP primary. Because no others are running for the District 1 or 3 posts, the primary winner will take the job.
Other Lauderdale County races that will be settled in the Republican Party primary include the coroner, chancery clerk, tax assessor, constable District 3 and Justice Court judge District 3.
All others advance to the November general election.
Johnson said she believes it's important for people to know that the primary elections are run by the Democratic and Republican parties.