Sunflower County’s District 3 officially has its new supervisor.
Ben Gaston claimed the seat after securing 66% of the vote during Tuesday’s Democratic runoff against opponent Keith Spealman.
The unofficial results, which include absentee ballots, have Gaston at 434 to Spealman’s 225.
“I want to express my appreciation to the voters of District 3 and Sunflower County,” Gaston told The E-T on Wednesday. “I look forward to working with the other supervisors on issues and needs involving education, workforce development, economic development, infrastructure improvements and expense control. Sunflower County has limited resources and those resources have to be applied in the most effective, cost-efficient manner possible.”
Meanwhile, Riley Rice secured a second term as District 2 supervisor, winning 55% of the vote over contender Levi Ford.
Ford forced a runoff with Rice and led him in votes in the Aug. 6 primary, but he was unable to overcome the incumbent in the runoff.
Lisa Bell got 50% of the vote in the Justice Court Northern District Democratic runoff, defeating Lester Williams to take the bench.
The seat was vacated by longtime Judge Stafford Shurden who chose not to run for reelection this year.
Sarita Simmons won the Democratic runoff for Senate District 13, securing over 60% of the vote in Sunflower, Bolivar and Tallahatchie Counties over contender John Marshall Alexander.
Both are from Bolivar County. Simmons will face Republican contender B.C. Hammond in the November election.
The newly-redrawn District 22 saw Joseph Thomas claim the Democratic nomination over Ruffin Smith.
In Sunflower County voting, Thomas edged Smith 451-438.
Thomas will go head-to-head against Republican nominee Hayes Dent in November.
