Along with president, local voters have other choices Tuesday

Published 6:45 am Sunday, November 6, 2016

Voters decide on Tuesday a new president and make their choices in several state and county races.

Voters will cast ballots for president, House of Representatives, some county school boards and election commissions. According to the Secretary of State’s office, all citizens voting must show a photo ID card. Polls are open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mississippi has a website to help navigate election information at www.sos.ms.gov/Vote/Pages/default.aspx.

The Supreme Court race for District 1, Place 3 is among the more hotly contested races in the state as incumbent Jim Kitchens attempts to hold off the challenge of Court of Appeals Judge Kenny Griffis of Meridian. The district covers 22 counties, with the office holder serving an eight-year term.

Kitchens is in his first term on the bench. He describes himself as simply a “country lawyer from Crystal Springs.” However, he said, it is his experience that makes him suitable for the job. He spent 32 years in private law practice and was elected three times as district attorney. He said his hunger for the job has not waned.

Griffis has served on the Court of Appeals for the last 13 years and is a presiding judge who has decided more than 8,000 cases and has written more than 800 majority opinions, according to Griffis. They are both running non-partisan.

Other contested races include:

Congressional Race

In District 3 of the U.S. House of Representatives, incumbent Republican Gregg Harper, of Pearl, faces Democrat Dennis C. Quinn, Veterans Party of America candidate Roger I. Gerrard and the Reform Party’s Lajena Sheets.

Harper is serving his fourth term, having been first elected to Congress in November of 2008.

Mississippi’s Third Congressional District stretches from Wilkinson County in southwest Mississippi to Oktibbeha County and includes the northeast corner of Jackson and the I-20 corridor into east central Mississippi.

Court of Appeals

Three candidates are running for the District 3, Position 1 seat. Jack Wilson, who was appointed to the post by Gov. Phil Bryant last year, is running against Madison resident and County Court Judge for Madison and Special Circuit Judge in Madison and Rankin counties Ed Hannan, along with Ridgeland’s Dow Yoder.