Veteran Chancery Clerk and District 2 Supervisor will not seek reelection this year
Two long-serving county officials are opting out of the upcoming elections, each saying, “It’s time.”
Chancery Clerk Gerry Taylor has served in his current capacity for seven terms, 28 years by the end of 2019.
“I am not running. It’s just time. It’s been 28 years and this isn’t a lifetime appointment,” he said simply when asked by The Star-Herald about his reelection plans Tuesday morning. “I’ve enjoyed it. It has been a challenge, a reward, stressful and good.
“I’ve had no opponent for the last 20 years and I’m proud of that,” he said. “People have been nice to me and It has been great to get to know the people of the county and I’ve enjoyed helping them.”
In closing his comments, Taylor said his hope is that he has “kept the county in as good a shape” as did his predecessor, Charles England.
District 2 Supervisor Charles Fancher, who has served on the Board of Supervisors for five terms, completing 20 years in 2019, also told The Star-Herald that he will not seek reelection this year.
“I’m not going to run. I just feel like it’s time,” he said. “I’ve done just about all I can do. There are so many things you can’t control anymore and you have to do the best you can with what you’ve got.”
Current board Chairman Bobby Lindsay, who is seeking reelection, said he wished Fancher would remain on the board. Fancher served as chairman last year, until Lindsay took the helm earlier this month.
“We don’t want him to quit because he’s really level-headed,” said Lindsay.
But Fancher said he will definitely not be running.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I appreciate the people and their confidence in me, but it is time to let someone else take over,” he said.
The decisions to not seek reelection are expected to draw some who would not have otherwise run into the local races.
Qualifying for county and state races are open until Friday, March 1.
Local voters will elect a new Chancery Clerk, county supervisors, a sheriff, tax collector, coroner and circuit clerk.
To qualify for a county race, a citizen must file paperwork with Attala County Circuit Clerk’s office in the Attala County Courthouse.
At the state level, voters will choose a governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general among other races.
Candidates can qualify with a party or as an independent. The cost is $100.
Qualified candidates
Chancery Clerk
Taylor Casey
Donnie Cooper
Supervisor District I
Bobby Lindsay
(incumbent)
Supervisor District 2
James "Peewee" Craig
Terry Ray
Supervisor District 3
Mark Armstrong
Steven Goss (incumbent)
Supervisor District 4
Kary Ellington (incumbent)
Supervisor District 5
Tim Pinkard (incumbent)
Sheriff
Randy Blakely
Lane Jenkins
Tim Nail (incumbent)
Tony L. Parks
Circuit Clerk
Wanda Fancher (incumbent)
Tax Assessor/Collector
Brenda Williams (incumbent)
Coroner
Sam Bell (incumbent)
County Attorney
Doug S. Crosby (incumbent)
Justice Court Judge - East
Bob Jordan (incumbent)
Justice Court Judge -West
Rosie Massey Sample
(incumbent)
Constable - East
Timmy Oakes
Brad Stanley
Scott Walters
Constable - West
Willie Roby
