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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

Based on unofficial results, there were two clear winners in local Lowndes County Democratic Primary races on Tuesday, June 5, for district court judge and sheriff.

With 13 of 14 boxes counted (all but provisional ballots), according to the Office of Lowndes County Judge of Probate, incumbent Lowndes County District Court Judge Adrian D. Johnson defeated challenger Ashley Smith with 2,608 votes or 59.97 percent of the vote to 1,741 or 40.03 percent of the vote. And incumbent Sheriff Williams defeated challenger G. Lashun Hutson with 3,619 votes or a whopping 83.33 percent of the voter to 724 votes or 16.67 percent.

Johnson and Williams are considered elected as there is no Republican opposition in either of their races.

“I didn’t have no doubt that I would automatically go back in for the people,” Sheriff Williams said following the unofficial vote count, Tuesday night. “I’ve been with the (sheriff’s) department 40 years.”

Williams said, “The people, they didn’t lie to me. The citizens of Lowndes County supported me like they said they would.” He said, “They’ll vote me out when they get tired of me. They said that wasn’t no time soon.”

He concluded, “Thank God, it’s all over.”

The Democratic Primary races for Lowndes County Judge of Probate and Lowndes County Coroner, however, are now are headed to a runoff.

For Lowndes County Judge of Probate, LaShandra Myrick, who received 1,838 votes or 43.62 percent will face Debbie Tammy Dunkin Webb who received 1,136 voters or 26.93 percent of the vote. Other vote getters in that primary race were Steve Foster, who received 1,076 votes or 25.53 percent and Thomas Perry, who received 164 votes or 3.89 percent of the vote.

And for Lowndes County Coroner Terrell Means, who received 1,411 votes or 37.91 percent will face incumbent Cassandra D. Smith, who received 1,752 votes or 47.07 percent of the vote. Also, getting votes in that race was Teryl L. Myles who received 559 votes or 15.02 percent of the vote.

Also in the Democratic Primary for State Representative District 69, it appears incumbent Kelvin Jamichael Lawrence is the clear winner with no Republican opposition. In Lowndes County Lawrence received 3,004 votes or 79.28 percent of the vote while Williams received 785 votes or 20.72 percent. And with 67 of 67 counties reporting, statewide Lawrence received 6,449 votes or 68.25 percent of the vote while Williams received 3,000 votes or 31.75 percent.

For State Democratic Executive Committee District 69 (female) in Lowndes County, Monica L. Arrington received 1,661 votes or 59.96 percent while Allyson Holland received 569 votes or 20.54 percent and JoCeleste Pettway received 540 votes or 19.49 percent. But statewide, Arrington received 3,565 votes or 42.02 percent, Holland received 1,489 votes or 17.55 percent and Pettway wins receiving 3,430 or 40.43percent.

For State Democratic Executive Committee District 69 (male) in Lowndes County, William Pompey 1,500 votes or 54.53 percent while John White received 1,251 votes or 45.47 percent. And statewide Pompey wins with 5,272 votes or 62.21 percent while White received 3,203 or 37.79 percent.

In the Republican Primary for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in Lowndes County Tracy T.O. Crane received 8 votes or 2.83 percent, Gerald Dial receive d 39 votes or 13.78 percent, Cecil Murphy received 22 votes or 7.77 percent and Rick Pate of Lowndesboro received 214 votes or 75.62 percent. However, this race appears to be headed for a runoff statewide between Pate and Dial. Statewide Crane received 52,484 votes or 12.64 percent; Dial received 124,586 votes or 30.00 percent; Murphy received 73,634 votes or 17.73 percent and Pate received 164,532 votes or 39.62 percent.