Ballot includes judge, school board races

By Rupert Howell
Hillary and Donald aren’t the only names on the 2016 Presidential Election ballot. Plenty of candidates, both national and local, are offering their services and looking for your vote in offices ranging from president to election commissioners and school board members.
Five election commission candidates, one from each supervisor district, will be listed on the November 8 ballot. All are unopposed and all but one, District Three candidate Wayne Belk, are incumbents.
Other election commission candidates currently serving are: District One, Dorothy Kerney-Wilbourn; District Two, Julius Harris; District Four, Wanda Lawrence and District Five, Kaye Smythe.
In the position Four South Panola School board election, Mattie B. Spears faces Leigh Taylor Patton-Unruh. They are seeking the position currently held by Buddy Gray who is not seeking re-election.
In North Panola, Position Two School board member is up for re-election but incumbent Chris Fairlee’s name will not be on the ballot as he is unopposed. Fairlee currently serves as that board’s president.
All school board members and election commissioners as well as judgeship candidates run independently of party affiliation.
Second District incumbent Democrat U.S. Representative Benny Thompson is being challenged by Republican John Bouie II, Reform party candidate Johnny McLeod and independent Troy Ray.
For Supreme Court Justice District 3 (Northern District), Position 1, John Brady, Bobby Chamberlin, Steve Crampton and James T. ‘Jim’ Kitchens Jr. face off. Should no candidate get a majority, a runoff election will be held Tuesday, November 22.
For Supreme Court Northern District, position Two, incumbent Jimmy Maxwell is unopposed.
Also unopposed in a special election for Court of Appeals District One , Position One is Batesville native Jim Greenlee of Oxford.
Candidates for Court of Appeals, District Two, Position Two  are Ceola James and Latrice Westbrooks.
Other presidential candidates on the ballot besides Democrat Clinton and Republican Trump include: Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party; ‘’Rocky’ Roque De La Fuente of the American Delta Party; Jim Hedges of the Prohibition Party’ Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party.
Panola County Circuit Clerk’s Office and Election Commissioners have asked to remind citizens that this Saturday, October 8 is the last day to register to vote. The Circuit Clerk’s office will be open until noon on that day.
Election Commissioner Kaye Smythe also ask to remind voters who have moved to register their new address at the clerk’s office for a smoother voting experience on election day.